Barcelona protests over 1-O anniversary lead to clashes and fires

Protests in Barcelona marking the ninth anniversary of the October 1, 2017, independence referendum resulted in clashes between demonstrators and police. While the march organized by the Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC) and CDR began peacefully, tensions escalated following the main demonstration.

Groups of hooded individuals targeted the National Police headquarters on Via Laietana by throwing fireworks, eggs, and smoke bombs at officers. Later, around 8:35 PM, protesters moved toward Plaza Urquinaona and surrounding streets, where they set fire to several containers to create barricades. Mossos d'Esquadra intervened to disperse the crowds and allow firefighters access to extinguish the flames.

Amidst the unrest, the Catalan Parliament passed a resolution demanding the ‘total and immediate’ application of the amnesty law, condemning what it described as the ‘undemocratic blocking attitude’ of the courts.