BARCELONA, Spain (ViaNews) - On Sunday around 11 a.m. in Catalonia, the news broke that the former President of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont was arrested in Germany. He was trying to cross into Belgium where he had been seeking asylum since Spain issued a European arrest warrant for his role in the Catalonia Declaration of Independence and voting.
[caption id="attachment_3926" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Protestors swarmed the streets of Barcelona on Sunday following the breaking news of the arrest of former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont. The sign reads: "Free Political Prisoners". Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]
As the news broke, the sounds of banging pots rang across Catalonia in a form of protest known as “caserolada.” Soon protests were organized around Barcelona and thousands took to the streets dawning Catalan Independence flags and banners calling for the release of political prisoners.
[caption id="attachment_3925" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Protestors and riot police clash in Barcelona following the arrest of former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont. Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]
As the protests commenced crowds gathered near government buildings where riot police from the Catalonian Mossos Esquadra blocked the streets to prevent the angry crowds from entering. Crowds clashed with the riot police on and off through the afternoon with objects being thrown, fires started and heavy handed police responses with the use of beatings, rubber bullets and tear gas.
[caption id="attachment_3927" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Pro-independence protestors and riot police clash in Barcelona. Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]
Tensions rose when the sun dropped as thousands more had gathered in front of the riot police and pushed forward into the frontlines where the riot police and protestors battled while the crowd chanted pro-Catalan independence songs.
[caption id="attachment_3928" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Protestors clash with the riot police in Barcelona. Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]
As the night commenced, the riot police advanced to clear out the crowds through force with vans and baton beatings. Over 80 were injured including riot police and multiple people detained.
[caption id="attachment_3929" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Pro-Independence protestors. Sign reads "Catalan Spring Awakening". Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]
These protests are seen by many as the start of a bigger protest movement that will follow. Some Catalans feel that the region has hit a breaking point with the arrest of their former President.
The formally autonomous region has been under direct Spanish rule since the Declaration of Independence in October 2017. The elections in December saw Pro-Independence parties win the majority, but an agreement to form a government has yet to be made and many high-level Catalan politicians have since been detained by the Spanish government and are unable to participate.
[caption id="attachment_3930" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Pro-Independence protestors. Sign reads "Is there democracy in Europe?". Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]
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Protestors swarmed the streets of Barcelona on Sunday following the breaking news of the arrest of former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont. The sign reads: "Free Political Prisoners". Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]
As the news broke, the sounds of banging pots rang across Catalonia in a form of protest known as “caserolada.” Soon protests were organized around Barcelona and thousands took to the streets dawning Catalan Independence flags and banners calling for the release of political prisoners.
[caption id="attachment_3925" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Protestors and riot police clash in Barcelona following the arrest of former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont. Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]
As the protests commenced crowds gathered near government buildings where riot police from the Catalonian Mossos Esquadra blocked the streets to prevent the angry crowds from entering. Crowds clashed with the riot police on and off through the afternoon with objects being thrown, fires started and heavy handed police responses with the use of beatings, rubber bullets and tear gas.
[caption id="attachment_3927" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Pro-independence protestors and riot police clash in Barcelona. Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]
Tensions rose when the sun dropped as thousands more had gathered in front of the riot police and pushed forward into the frontlines where the riot police and protestors battled while the crowd chanted pro-Catalan independence songs.
[caption id="attachment_3928" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Protestors clash with the riot police in Barcelona. Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]
As the night commenced, the riot police advanced to clear out the crowds through force with vans and baton beatings. Over 80 were injured including riot police and multiple people detained.
[caption id="attachment_3929" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Pro-Independence protestors. Sign reads "Catalan Spring Awakening". Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]
These protests are seen by many as the start of a bigger protest movement that will follow. Some Catalans feel that the region has hit a breaking point with the arrest of their former President.
The formally autonomous region has been under direct Spanish rule since the Declaration of Independence in October 2017. The elections in December saw Pro-Independence parties win the majority, but an agreement to form a government has yet to be made and many high-level Catalan politicians have since been detained by the Spanish government and are unable to participate.
[caption id="attachment_3930" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Pro-Independence protestors. Sign reads "Is there democracy in Europe?". Photo by: Evan McCaffrey.[/caption]