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| Barcelona chaos: Scuffles with police as hundreds of thousands of pro-independence supporters stage general strike (WATCH LIVE) | Barcelona chaos: Scuffles with police as hundreds of thousands of pro-independence supporters stage general strike (WATCH LIVE) |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A huge crowd with Catalan flags has paralyzed central Barcelona as people from all across the region protested the harsh prison sentences for pro-independence leaders by the Spanish court and called for parting ways with Madrid. | A huge crowd with Catalan flags has paralyzed central Barcelona as people from all across the region protested the harsh prison sentences for pro-independence leaders by the Spanish court and called for parting ways with Madrid. |
| The exact numbers of protesters is not yet known, but the local media estimated the turnout at “hundreds of thousands.” The unions behind the action earlier said that they were expecting one million to show up. | The exact numbers of protesters is not yet known, but the local media estimated the turnout at “hundreds of thousands.” The unions behind the action earlier said that they were expecting one million to show up. |
| The rally continued more or less peacefully for a few hours, but was eventually marred by more serious violence as some of the protesters started building barricades and setting garbage containers on fire. | |
| They tossed stones and other foreign objects at the riot police, who were seen firing back – presumably using rubber bullets or other projectiles – and charging at the rioters with batons. | They tossed stones and other foreign objects at the riot police, who were seen firing back – presumably using rubber bullets or other projectiles – and charging at the rioters with batons. |
| The general strike kicked off in Catalonia’s capital early on Friday, with small businesses not opening and employees of bigger firms and factories skipping work. | The general strike kicked off in Catalonia’s capital early on Friday, with small businesses not opening and employees of bigger firms and factories skipping work. |
| The walkout caused the cancellation of almost 60 flights at Barcelona-El Prat Airport as well as the disruption of train operations in some parts of the region. Many more flights were canceled in Barcelona in previous days as the demonstrators made the airport completely inaccessible. | |
| Road traffic was also affected as the protesters blocked roads and highways by setting tires on fire and leaving nails on the asphalt. The AP-7 highway was cut off near the French border, paralyzing the crossing between Spain and France. | |
| In Girona, farmers drove their tractors across the central streets to the cheers of crowds to show Madrid that they mean business. | In Girona, farmers drove their tractors across the central streets to the cheers of crowds to show Madrid that they mean business. |
| The large groups of people who marched from various parts of Catalonia started arriving in Barcelona at around noon Friday and brought the city to a standstill. They had set out on their journey to the regional capital from Girona, Tarragona, Vic, Martorell and others cities by foot on Wednesday. | The large groups of people who marched from various parts of Catalonia started arriving in Barcelona at around noon Friday and brought the city to a standstill. They had set out on their journey to the regional capital from Girona, Tarragona, Vic, Martorell and others cities by foot on Wednesday. |
| Students staged minor protests throughout Barcelona in anticipation of the major rally, which started at around 5pm local time. A group of pro-independence activists also camped outside the entrance to the iconic Sagrada Familia basilica in the heart of Barcelona, preventing tourists from coming in. | |
| Barcelona has been in turmoil since Monday when Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced nine politicians and activists to up to 13 years behind bars for organizing the referendum on Catalonia’s independence in 2017. The plebiscite, which saw the majority of the population voting for secession from Spain, was labeled illegal by Madrid and met with a harsh police crackdown that left hundreds of people injured. | Barcelona has been in turmoil since Monday when Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced nine politicians and activists to up to 13 years behind bars for organizing the referendum on Catalonia’s independence in 2017. The plebiscite, which saw the majority of the population voting for secession from Spain, was labeled illegal by Madrid and met with a harsh police crackdown that left hundreds of people injured. |
| As for the latest protests, Thursday was the most violent day of the rallies in Barcelona as the demonstrators built barricades, burnt bonfires and clashed with police. Dozens were hurt on both sides. | |
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