Police and revellers clash on second night of La Mercè celebrations
Twenty arrested and 43 people treated for injuries as 40,000 joined mass public drinking party near Plaça Espanya
The second night of the La Mercè celebrations saw around 40,000 people gather on Avinguda Maria Cristina and the surroundings of Plaça Espanya without respecting safety distances or wearing masks.
The mass on-street drinking party, known locally as ‘botellón,’ descended into chaos and clashes with police during the course of the evening.
Some twenty arrests were made, while 43 people were treated for injuries.
Some revellers threw objects such as bottles at law-enforcement officers, while some windows of the Fira de Barcelona congress hall were smashed, some rubbish containers were burned, and one car was also burned.
VIDEO (1/2) @elperiodico | El macrobotellón de plaza España durante la mercè termina con una batalla campal, muchos heridos y graves destrozos. ✍️@ElisendaColell 📸@manu_mitru pic.twitter.com/4MEaeg8BVY
— Manu Mitru (@manu_mitru) September 25, 2021
VIDEO (2/2) @elperiodico | El macrobotellón de plaza España durante la mercè termina con una batalla campal, muchos heridos y graves destrozos. ✍️ @ElisendaColell 📸@manu_mitru pic.twitter.com/AwkRABOOij
— Manu Mitru (@manu_mitru) September 25, 2021
The mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, has asked the interior minister Joan Ignasi Elena for reinforcements of the Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra police for Saturday night.
Colau hopes that a stronger police presence will prevent similar events in the city that the mayor described as "unacceptable."
“This has gone from being a problem of incivility to a problem of vandalism and public order,” she said.