Thousands take to the streets in Barcelona to demand Puigdemont's release
Rally going from the European Commission office in the Catalan capital to the German consulate underway
Thousands of Catalans took to the streets in Barcelona on Sunday evening to demand that the German authorities release Carles Puigdemont, who was arrested some hours earlier near the Danish border. The rally started at 5pm, and is going from the European Commission office in the Catalan capital to the German consulate. There was tension between some protesters and police in the surroundings of the Spanish government delegation in Catalonia.
Demonstrators called for a general strike and demanded the release of "political prisoners". Protesters shouted chants such as "Puigdemont is our president," “not a single step backwards” and "this Europe is a disgrace" in a tense protest. In addition, they chanted the Catalan anthem, 'Els segadors', to express their opposition to the imprisonment of Catalan leaders.
There were tense moments between some demonstrators and police in the surroundings of the Spanish government delegation in Catalonia, and even police charges. In Barcelona, 4 people have been arrested and 53 injured.