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| Police clash with Catalonia protesters in second night of violence | Police clash with Catalonia protesters in second night of violence |
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| The Spanish government has warned that violent protests in Catalonia will be met with a “firm, proportional and united” response after the jailing of nine pro-independence leaders triggered a second night of unrest in the region. | The Spanish government has warned that violent protests in Catalonia will be met with a “firm, proportional and united” response after the jailing of nine pro-independence leaders triggered a second night of unrest in the region. |
| In Barcelona, peaceful, planned demonstrations erupted into running battles with the police on Tuesday. | In Barcelona, peaceful, planned demonstrations erupted into running battles with the police on Tuesday. |
| Protesters lit fires and erected makeshift barricades in the city centre before the crowd was dispersed by baton charges by Spanish and Catalan police, as far as Passeig de Gràcia, the elegant boulevard that is home to many of the city’s most exclusive shops and hotels. | Protesters lit fires and erected makeshift barricades in the city centre before the crowd was dispersed by baton charges by Spanish and Catalan police, as far as Passeig de Gràcia, the elegant boulevard that is home to many of the city’s most exclusive shops and hotels. |
| By mid-evening, dozens of fires had been lit on the boulevard and surrounding streets as helicopters hovered overhead. Makeshift barricades were set up with rubbish containers as skirmishes between demonstrators and police continued, with riot police firing numerous rounds of rubber bullets. | By mid-evening, dozens of fires had been lit on the boulevard and surrounding streets as helicopters hovered overhead. Makeshift barricades were set up with rubbish containers as skirmishes between demonstrators and police continued, with riot police firing numerous rounds of rubber bullets. |
| Similar scenes were witnessed in the other main Catalan cities of Tarragona, Girona and Lleida, where dozens of people were reportedly injured. | Similar scenes were witnessed in the other main Catalan cities of Tarragona, Girona and Lleida, where dozens of people were reportedly injured. |
| The Spanish government said that 51 people had been arrested across Catalonia on Monday and Tuesday, and that 54 officers from the regional police force and 18 from the national force had been injured. | The Spanish government said that 51 people had been arrested across Catalonia on Monday and Tuesday, and that 54 officers from the regional police force and 18 from the national force had been injured. |
| “A minority is trying to impose violence on the streets of Catalonia, especially in Barcelona. Tarragona, Girona and Lleida,” the government said in a statement. | “A minority is trying to impose violence on the streets of Catalonia, especially in Barcelona. Tarragona, Girona and Lleida,” the government said in a statement. |
| “It’s obvious that what we’re seeing is not a peaceful civic movement, but one coordinated by groups who use violence to upset co-existence in Catalonia.” | |
| The statement paid tribute to the efforts of the police, adding: “The Spanish government’s unwavering aim is to guarantee safety and co-existence within Catalonia, and that is what it will do through its commitment to firmness, proportionality and unity.” | The statement paid tribute to the efforts of the police, adding: “The Spanish government’s unwavering aim is to guarantee safety and co-existence within Catalonia, and that is what it will do through its commitment to firmness, proportionality and unity.” |
| The caretaker government, led by the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has already said it could activate article 155 of the constitution, which would allow it to suspend the regional government and assume direct rule of the region. | The caretaker government, led by the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has already said it could activate article 155 of the constitution, which would allow it to suspend the regional government and assume direct rule of the region. |
| Sánchez was due to meet the leader of the three main opposition parties on Wednesday to discuss the situation. | Sánchez was due to meet the leader of the three main opposition parties on Wednesday to discuss the situation. |
| Tuesday’s disturbances came a day after thousands of pro-independence protesters attempted to shut down Barcelona airport, leading to police charges. | Tuesday’s disturbances came a day after thousands of pro-independence protesters attempted to shut down Barcelona airport, leading to police charges. |
| Catalan health authorities said medical personnel had attended to 131 people on Monday. Twenty-four people were taken to hospital, including one man who suffered an eye injury that could have been caused by a rubber bullet. | Catalan health authorities said medical personnel had attended to 131 people on Monday. Twenty-four people were taken to hospital, including one man who suffered an eye injury that could have been caused by a rubber bullet. |
| The central government’s calls for calm were echoed by Catalonia’s vice-president, who pointed out that the regional independence movement had always prided itself on peaceful actions and that violence would only play into the hands of its opponents. | The central government’s calls for calm were echoed by Catalonia’s vice-president, who pointed out that the regional independence movement had always prided itself on peaceful actions and that violence would only play into the hands of its opponents. |
| “Let’s not give them what they’re after,” Pere Aragonès tweeted on Tuesday night. | “Let’s not give them what they’re after,” Pere Aragonès tweeted on Tuesday night. |
| “Let’s not hand them the hidden gift of a 155. We must defend our citizens and our institutions. Let’s refrain from violent behaviour.” | “Let’s not hand them the hidden gift of a 155. We must defend our citizens and our institutions. Let’s refrain from violent behaviour.” |
| However, the Catalan government, led by the president, Quim Torra, has also been criticised for calling for civil disobedience while sending in Catalan riot police to restore order. | However, the Catalan government, led by the president, Quim Torra, has also been criticised for calling for civil disobedience while sending in Catalan riot police to restore order. |
| Pablo Casado, the leader of the conservative People’s party (PP), has called on Sánchez to activate the national security law, arguing that it is needed to ensure that Catalan police and intelligence services were brought under the control of the central government. | |
| Torra said on Tuesday that the convicted prisoners were proud of the demonstrators and urged them to continue to mobilise over the coming days. Five marches have been called for Wednesday with protesters setting off to Barcelona from Girona, Tarragona, Vic, Berga and Tárrega. They are due to arrive in the Catalan capital in Friday, when a major demonstration and general strike are planned. | Torra said on Tuesday that the convicted prisoners were proud of the demonstrators and urged them to continue to mobilise over the coming days. Five marches have been called for Wednesday with protesters setting off to Barcelona from Girona, Tarragona, Vic, Berga and Tárrega. They are due to arrive in the Catalan capital in Friday, when a major demonstration and general strike are planned. |
| Although Tuesday’s demonstrations were called by the Catalan National Assembly, which has previously organised the independence movement’s peaceful and spectacular demonstrations, it appears that it may have lost the initiative to the so-called Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDRs) who favour direct action and confrontation. | Although Tuesday’s demonstrations were called by the Catalan National Assembly, which has previously organised the independence movement’s peaceful and spectacular demonstrations, it appears that it may have lost the initiative to the so-called Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDRs) who favour direct action and confrontation. |
| Monday’s airport protest, meanwhile, was coordinated by a social network group called the Tsunami Democràtic. | |
| The current unrest erupted on Monday after Spain’s supreme court acquitted the nine defendants of the charge of violent rebellion but convicted them variously of sedition, misuse of public funds and disobedience over their roles in the failed push for independence two years ago. | The current unrest erupted on Monday after Spain’s supreme court acquitted the nine defendants of the charge of violent rebellion but convicted them variously of sedition, misuse of public funds and disobedience over their roles in the failed push for independence two years ago. |
| The former regional vice-president, Oriol Junqueras, was jailed for 13 years, while eight others received sentences of between nine and 12 years. | The former regional vice-president, Oriol Junqueras, was jailed for 13 years, while eight others received sentences of between nine and 12 years. |
| Hours after the verdicts were announced, an international arrest warrant was reissued for the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who spearheaded the push for independence. | Hours after the verdicts were announced, an international arrest warrant was reissued for the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who spearheaded the push for independence. |
| It said Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium to avoid arrest by the Spanish authorities, was wanted for alleged sedition and misuse of public funds. | It said Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium to avoid arrest by the Spanish authorities, was wanted for alleged sedition and misuse of public funds. |
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