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Catalonia protests shut down Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Barcelona's Sagrada Familia church - one of the city's main tourist attractions - has shut down because of protesters blocking its entrance. | |
Protests, which are now entering their fifth day, and a general strike have brought the Spanish city to a halt. | Protests, which are now entering their fifth day, and a general strike have brought the Spanish city to a halt. |
Trains are stopped and roads blocked by protesters angered by jail sentences imposed on Catalan separatist leaders. | Trains are stopped and roads blocked by protesters angered by jail sentences imposed on Catalan separatist leaders. |
The Barcelona and Real Madrid football teams have postponed a match they were due to play on 26 October. | The Barcelona and Real Madrid football teams have postponed a match they were due to play on 26 October. |
The famous rivals had been set to meet in El Clásico, a hugely popular clash held at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium. | The famous rivals had been set to meet in El Clásico, a hugely popular clash held at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium. |
On its official Twitter account, the church says a group of protesters was standing at the entrance and access to the premise could not be guaranteed. | |
A big demonstration is under way outside the city's university, with hundreds of thousands of other protesters from across the Catalonia region due to converge on Barcelona later in the day. | A big demonstration is under way outside the city's university, with hundreds of thousands of other protesters from across the Catalonia region due to converge on Barcelona later in the day. |
Protesters have blocked at least 20 major roads, including the main cross-border motorway with France, by sitting down on the carriageways. | Protesters have blocked at least 20 major roads, including the main cross-border motorway with France, by sitting down on the carriageways. |
At least 96 people have been hurt as the protests spread across Spain's north-eastern region. | At least 96 people have been hurt as the protests spread across Spain's north-eastern region. |
On Wednesday, barricades were set alight and petrol bombs thrown as riots gripped the centre of Barcelona. | On Wednesday, barricades were set alight and petrol bombs thrown as riots gripped the centre of Barcelona. |
Why are people protesting? | Why are people protesting? |
The protests began after nine pro-independence leaders were jailed for between nine and 13 years by Spain's Supreme Court earlier this week. | The protests began after nine pro-independence leaders were jailed for between nine and 13 years by Spain's Supreme Court earlier this week. |
The separatists were convicted of sedition over their role in an independence referendum in 2017 which was outlawed by the Spanish courts. | The separatists were convicted of sedition over their role in an independence referendum in 2017 which was outlawed by the Spanish courts. |
Another three were found guilty of disobedience and fined but not jailed. All 12 defendants denied the charges. | Another three were found guilty of disobedience and fined but not jailed. All 12 defendants denied the charges. |
Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is still wanted by the Spanish authorities for his role in the referendum. | Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is still wanted by the Spanish authorities for his role in the referendum. |
He currently resides in Belgium. If he returns to Spain, he will be arrested. | He currently resides in Belgium. If he returns to Spain, he will be arrested. |
What is behind the Catalonia unrest? | What is behind the Catalonia unrest? |
Catalan nationalists have long complained that their region, which has a distinct history dating back almost 1,000 years, sends too much money to poorer parts of Spain via taxes which are controlled by Madrid. | Catalan nationalists have long complained that their region, which has a distinct history dating back almost 1,000 years, sends too much money to poorer parts of Spain via taxes which are controlled by Madrid. |
The wealthy region is home to about 7.5 million people, with their own language, parliament, flag and anthem. | The wealthy region is home to about 7.5 million people, with their own language, parliament, flag and anthem. |
In September, a march in Barcelona in support of Catalonia's independence from Spain drew crowds of about 600,000 people - one of the lowest turnouts in the eight-year history of the annual rally. | In September, a march in Barcelona in support of Catalonia's independence from Spain drew crowds of about 600,000 people - one of the lowest turnouts in the eight-year history of the annual rally. |