Rioters fought running battles with police in Barcelona after more than half-a-million people took to the streets to demonstrate against the convictions of political figures behind Catalonia’s independence movement. A general strike had already shut down the city when 520,000 people took to the streets – including some who had marched for days from five neighbouring cities. As night fell, masked youths blocked a broad boulevard close to the city's police headquarters, setting fire to large bins and throwing a hail of stones, cans and bottles towards massed lines of security forces in full riot gear. Defending the police building, officers responded with repeated volleys of foam bullets, smoke grenades and tear gas, while a water canon roamed the area to douse flames. A branch of the Santander bank was also ransacked amid the chaos, while officials said there were clashes in at least four other towns and cities in Catalonia. Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures Show all 14 1 /14 Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures Reapers' War In 1640, amidst the Thirty Years War, Philip IV of Spain sent his Castilian soldiers into the Catalan region to defend the border with France. The soldiers were not on their best behaviour and drew the ire of the Catalan peasants and politicians alike, at a time when the region was already agitated by economic decline. On June 7, reapers arriving to Barcelona for seasonal harvest work were dismayed to find little of the sort and blamed the stationed soldiers. After a reaper was killed, the revolt began in full force with a fierce uprising known as Corpus de Sang (depicted here in a 1910 painting by Ermenegild Miralles) Ermenegild Miralles i Anglès Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures Reapers' War More Castilian forces arrived, strengthening the Catalan resolve and leading Pau Claris, President of the Generalitat (Catalonia's political assembly) to declare Catalonia an independent republic on January 17 1641. A week later the republic swore its allegiance to Louis XIII of France and the war came to a head at the Battle of Montjuïc (depicted above by Pandolfo Reschi) where the Franco-Catalan forces were victorious. Following negotiations, Catalonia became an independent republic under the protection of France Pandolfo Reschi Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures War of the Spanish Succession As Charles II of Spain died in 1700 without an heir, a variety of nations and other powers across Europe had their own ideas of who ought to succeed him. Catalonia sided with the Austrians, English and the Dutch in endorsing Archduke Charles of Austria, a Habsburg. Unsuccessful in their aims, they were violently brought back under the Spanish crown by the victorious Phillip V. (Depicted above is the Battle of Almansa, a decisive battle in the War of the Spanish Succession) Ricardo Balaca Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures Tragic Week The conflict of the Tragic Week of July 1909 resulted from Spanish Prime Minister Antonio Maura's desire for power gains in Morocco. He relied on, mostly poor, Catalonian conscripts for the cause, who questioned the motives of the conflict and doubted their chances of survival Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures Tragic Week A general strike commenced on Monday 26 July. By midday the crowds had set fire to the San José Workers’ Foundation, the first of around 80, mostly religious, buildings that they would burn that week. Soldiers and police barricaded streets and fought openly with the strikers Alamy Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures Tragic Week By the end of the week, the police and army had taken control. Over 1000 strikers were arrested and 5 leading figures executed. This caused disgust across Spain and wider Europe and the episode contributed to the downfall of Maura's government Getty Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures The Spanish Civil War In the Spanish Coup of July 1936, Republican forces opposed the Nationalist presence in Catalonia. The National Confederation of Labour (CNT), an anarchist organisation, began to take hold of power in Catalonia AFP/Getty Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures The Spanish Civil War As the CNT took control of the Generalitat, companies and organisations were ordered to collective control Getty Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures The Spanish Civil War Nationalist forces eventually regained control of the territory. Pictured are their tanks entering Barcelona in 1939 Getty Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures The Spanish Civil War Barcelona nationalists rejoice at the arrival of General Franco's forces. Catalonia, along with the rest of Spain, was to remain under dictatorship until 1975 Getty Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures Independence Referendum 2017 In 2017 the Generalitat passed a motion that a referendum would be held on Catalan independence. The Constitutional Court of Spain ruled that the referendum was a breach of the Spanish constitution, therefore illegal Reuters Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures Independence Referendum 2017 Catalan government buildings were raided in the lead up and polling stations were blockaded by police on the day but the vote went ahead illegally. Turnout was 43% and of those 92% voted for independence Reuters Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures Independence Referendum 2017 Catalan President Carles Puigdemont declared victory and is pictured here signing a declaration of independence on October 27. Warrants were issued for the arrest of Puigdemont and five other Catalan politicians and the Spanish government did not recognise the result and imposed direct rule over Catalonia, as opposed to its then status as an autonomous community of Spain Reuters Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures 2018 A year on from the vote Spain has ended direct rule in the region and dropped the arrest warrants. But on the anniversary of the vote, more than 180,000 protesters took to the streets of Barcelona with the cry "1 October, no forgiving, no forgetting" AFP/Getty The protests began after the Spanish Supreme Court decided to jail nine separatist leaders for their role in a failed 2017 independence referendum earlier this week, on charges including sedition. Unlike the peaceful protests that led up to the independence ballot – which was ruled illegal by Madrid – scores have been arrested in violent exchanges with national and regional police. Protesters have set up and ignited barricades in the streets of the Barcelona. More than 200 police officers treated for injuries since Monday. Health authorities said 62 people were harmed across Friday evening alone, including 41 in Barcelona. Around 107 police vehicles have been damaged while 800 bins are reported to have been burned as barricades over the same period. Recommended Spanish voters split over how to bring country together Spanish authorities suspect a secretive new group called Tsunami Democratic is using encrypted messages to orchestrate some of the attacks. The group appeared in September and in just over six weeks has gained nearly 340,000 followers on its main channel in Telegram, a messaging app. A National Court judge ordered the closure of websites linked to the group on Friday. More than 120 people have been arrested during the demonstrations. It comes amid fears the independence movement has been pushed towards violence by fringe separatist groups who do not share the core movement’s views on non-violent protest. Rights group Amnesty International called on "all authorities" to refrain from contributing to the escalation of tensions in the streets and to respond "proportionally" to outbreaks of violence. The group said it had observed "various cases" of "excessive" use of police force, including “inappropriate and unjustified use of batons” against people “who posed no risk." But Spanish judge Fernando Grande-Marlaska defended the police action and warned that demonstrators could face six-year prison sentences for their involvement in the riots. Miquel Buch, Catalonia's pro-independence interior minister, said "This kind of violence is unprecedented in Catalonia ... these people are not separatists."<doc-sep>Barcelona: Police clash with counter-protest demonstrators top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Police armed with riot shields and batons clashed with separatist protesters in Barcelona this morning, arresting six people during the disturbances, according to local news reports. At least ten protestors were injured after baton-wielding Catalan police charged at demonstators, according to Catalan news reports, with the clashes taking place on the eve of the first anniversary of the Catalan independence referendum. One protestor was arrested in the city's Plaza Catalunya main square, according to Barcelona newspaper La Vanguardia, as around 6,000 separatists gathered for the independence demonstration. Catalan Mossos police officers charged at protestors, who had gathered in the city's Via Laietana on Saturday morning. Barcelona protests: Police clash with demonstrators A rival demonstration involving around 1,800 protestors from police support group Jusapol also took place in the area on Saturday. Many independence protesters camped out in a nearby square overnight, with the rival groups of marchers kept several hundred metres away from each other by police. Demonstrators threw paint and coloured powder at Mossos officers and complained that they would not let them pass. Photos showed truncheon-wielding officers splattered with brightly coloured paint during the disturbances in the centre of the city. Barcelona protests: Mossos officers held back rival Catalan independence and police supporters Barcelona protests: Demonstrators threw coloured powder at Mossos Catalan officers during clashes Monday will mark one year since the banned independence referendum in Catalonia which sparked a huge police crackdown and plunged Spain into its worst political crisis in decades. Elsewhere in the city hundreds of people staged a sit-in during a planned occupation of Sant Jaume square in front of the Catalan regional government headquarters. The protests come as Spain’s central bank reduces growth forecasts amid simmering political tensions in Catalonia and huge government debt. During Saturday's clashes, officers responded with baton charges after independence supporters hurled projectiles at them. Barcelona protests: Riot police clash with demonstrators Police officers were showered in fluorescent paint during the Barcelona disturbances Barcelona protests: Independence supporters hurled paint at police officers during the protests Footage shows police forming a barrier and holding back the crowd, some of whom waved the Catalan flag and chanted "Never forget October 1", in reference to last year's referendum which ended with hundreds of people injured by police officers. Catalan separatists chanted "Fascists, get out of our streets" at police and "independence". The counter demonstration was in support of police officers demanding better pay, with some protestors flying the Spanish flag. Barcelona mayor Ada Colau has appealed for calm and asked demonstrators to "avoid confrontation", voicing fears that "far-right groups" were stirring tensions. Barcelona protests: The chaos comes amid the one year anniversary of the independence referendum Barcelona protests: People stage a sit-in during an occupation of the Sant Jaume square<doc-sep>Tens of thousands of Catalans congregated in Barcelona on Monday to mark the first anniversary of the region’s unilateral and illegal independence referendum as groups of pro-independence activists blocked roads, motorways and a high-speed rail line and surrounded the Catalan parliament. Police in the city estimated that about 180,000 people took part in a rally in the city on Monday evening. Tensions flared between police and protesters as some hardline demonstrators jumped over barriers at the entrance to the parliament. There were similar scenes outside the Barcelona headquarters of Spain’s national police. Crowds of students filled the city’s central square on Monday afternoon, waving yellow, red and blue separatist flags and chanting “1 October, no forgiving, no forgetting”. Nearby, others let off smoke bombs and fireworks. The huge rallies came after members of the grassroots Committees for the Defence of the Republic occupied streets in Barcelona and Lleida and the motorways to Madrid and France. They also obstructed the train line between Figueres, Girona and Barcelona but services were restored by 10am local time. Catalonia’s pro-independence supporters march in Barcelona, Spain. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images In Girona, protesters stormed a government office, tearing down the Spanish flag and replacing it with the pro-independence estelada (starred) banner. Catalonia’s nationalist president, Quim Torra, made a symbolic visit to a polling station in the small town of Sant Julià de Ramis, where police prevented his predecessor Carles Puigdemont from voting last October. Speaking on Monday morning, Torra had urged the protesters to “keep up the pressure”. “Everything began on 1 October and everything goes back to 1 October,” he said. “The lesson of 1 October and its values are what we need as we face the coming weeks and months.” In a video message released on Monday, Puigdemont said: “Let us not stray from the only possible way to live in a full democracy: the [Catalan] republic and its international recognition.” Puigdemont later criticised the protesters who forced their way into the regional parliament, tweeting: “If they’re wearing hoods, they aren’t 1 October people. If they use violence, they aren’t 1 October people. We did it with our faces uncovered and in a peaceful way. That is how, a year ago, we overcame an authoritarian state.” Torra’s call for continued direct action had led Spain’s foreign minister, Josep Borrell, to remind the Catalan president of his official duties. “We’ll keep trying to reduce tensions and maintain dialogue, and ask everyone to fulfil their responsibilities,” he said. “Order means order, and public order in Catalonia has to be guaranteed by the Catalan government, which is led by Mr Torra.” Catalonia remains deeply divided over the issue of independence a year after Puigdemont’s administration staged the vote in defiance of the Spanish government. The referendum was marred by violence as officers from the Guardia Civil and national police stormed polling stations, beat voters with batons and fired rubber bullets. The central government responded to the subsequent unilateral declaration of independence by sacking Puigdemont and his cabinet, taking control of the wealthy north-eastern region and calling a snap regional election. Although pro-independence parties retained their majority in last December’s vote, the staunchly unionist Citizens party took the most seats and polls suggest Catalans are evenly split over whether to secede. The new socialist government of Pedro Sánchez has taken a more conciliatory approach than the conservative government it replaced, offering a vote on increased self-government but categorically ruling out a referendum on self-determination or independence. Thousands of people attend a protest on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Catalan illegal independence referendum in Barcelona, Spain. Photograph: Alberto Estevez/EPA Cracks have appeared in the independence movement, with moderate figures calling for a more realistic, long-term strategy to achieve a sovereign republic, while Puigdemont and Torra advocate pushing ahead with what they see as their mandate from the referendum. In last year’s poll, 90% of those who voted opted for independence, but turnout was 42% as unionist Catalans boycotted the poll. However, the biggest obstacle to negotiations is the continuing detention of nine Catalan independence leaders who are due to be tried early next year for their roles in the push for secession. Puigdemont fled to Belgium days after declaring independence and several other pro-independence politicians remain in self-imposed exile. Spanish government ministers have acknowledged that it would be better if the jailed leaders were allowed out on bail, but have stressed that it is a judicial question rather than a political one. On Saturday, 24 people were injured and six arrested in Barcelona after scuffles broke out at a rally held to honour the police deployed to prevent the referendum. Reuters contributed to this report<doc-sep>
Catalan protesters have clashed with police in Barcelona today with tensions running high ahead of the first anniversary of the region's bitterly contested referendum and failed bid for independence. Separatists threw paint at police, covering vans, roads and anti-riot shields in bright colours in the centre of Barcelona, while officers responded with baton strikes to keep them back. The clashes left 14 people injured and led to six arrests, regional authorities said, with one local police officer apparently among those who needed medical attention. Officers used batons to push back the oncoming separatists - who will mark the first anniversary of the 2017 referendum on Monday - and keep apart the opposing groups. Separatist protesters clash with Mossos d'Esquadra police officers in fresh demonstrations in Barcelona on Saturday Catalan police are covered in brightly-coloured paint after clashing with separatist protesters in Barcelona today Riot police wearing helmets and carrying shields and batons charge protesters during fresh clashes in Barcelona Separatist protesters throw coloured powder towards Mossos d'Esquadra police officers in Barcelona on Saturday Officers from the Catalan regional police - Mossos D'Esquadra - covered in paint during clashes in Barcelona today Earlier, local Catalan police intervened to form a barrier when a separatist threw purple paint on a man who was part of another march of around 100 people in support of Spanish police demanding better pay. 'I make a call for calm, this city has always defended that everyone can exercise their rights to free speech,' Barcelona mayor Ada Colau told Catalunya Radio. The separatists filled a downtown square in Barcelona, many spending the previous night there, to force the regional government to alter the route of the march by the Spanish police supporters. Organisers of the police march said its goal was to demand better salaries but they also wanted to support the national police and Civil Guard officers who had been ordered to dismantle last year's referendum. The referendum on secession, organised by Catalan authorities in defiance of Madrid, led to an attempted independence declaration that received no international recognition and triggered a months-long takeover by central authorities. The Yes side won last year's referendum with 90 per cent of the vote but turnout was below half and the ballot was declared illegal by the Spanish government. Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain's constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either awaiting trial in prison or fled the country. The referendum was marred when Spanish national police and Civil Guard officers clashed with voters, injuring hundreds. Two weeks ago police had to intervene to keep apart two separate rallies by Catalan separatists and Spanish unionists in Barcelona, the region's capital. Catalonia's separatist-led government is now asking Spain's central authorities to authorise a binding vote on secession. The centre of Barcelona erupts into a sea of colour as separatist protesters throw paint and coloured powder at police Paint-covered officers stand in a line with their shields after clashing with separatist protesters during a counter-protest A woman holds a banner demanding 'freedom for political prisoners' in front of Catalan regional police Catalan regional police officers clash with separatist protesters ahead of the first anniversary of a bitter referendum Riot police clash with separatist protesters during a counter-protest against a demonstration in support of Spanish police Protesters throw paint and coloured powder at Catalan regional police during Saturday's clashes in Barcelona A line of police officers wearing riot gear stand in the way of hundreds of separatist protesters in Barcelona on Saturday Catalan police vans are seen covered in paint after clashes which left 14 people injured and led to six arrests Regional riot police protect themselves from the paint thrown by pro-independence supporters