The rally started at the Placa Sant Jaume in the centre of Barcelona, where the city governing bodies are located. According to the regional law enforcement bodies, about 1,500 people joined the demonstration.
WATCH: Unrest in Barcelona as anti-lockdown protesters take to the street pic.twitter.com/UVnCKzT352
— BNO Newsroom (@BNODesk) October 30, 2020
When the main part of the demonstration came to an end, several groups of radicalised protesters started to throw smoke grenades, crackers and parts of fence to police officers, as well as build barricades and set them on fire. The unrest soon spread to the Gothic Quarter.
Earlier, looting occurred in Barcelona, #Spain as anti-lockdown protesters took to the street. pic.twitter.com/GX6reK2eBI
— The Up2Dater (@UptoDateNewz) October 30, 2020
📹 | Protesters against #COVID19 measures in #Spain's #Barcelona clash with police forces.pic.twitter.com/ADg1KvGaYv
— EHA News (@eha_news) October 30, 2020
📹 Los enfrentamientos entre los Mossos d'Esquadra y las personas congregadas en las calles de Barcelona 🇪🇸 en protesta por las restricciones ante la pandemia pic.twitter.com/kIy294vf4l
— Sumarium (@sumariumcom) October 30, 2020
At least two people have been detained during the protests. Firefighters and doctors are working at the site. The authorities have called on residents to avoid the areas engulfed in the clashes.
En España 🇪🇸(Barcelona) La población se arma de valor y salen a reclamar sus derechos y a pelear por su ¡Libertad!. Contra las medidas tiránicas, el confinamiento, bozales, toques de queda, vacunas y todo lo que gobiernos títeres quieren imponer. #NOALNOM pic.twitter.com/bKaQBV2zqn
— 𝖯𝖺𝗍𝗋𝗂𝖼𝗂𝖺 𝖭𝖺𝗏𝗂𝖽𝖺𝖽 🇲🇽 (@ANPNL05) October 30, 2020
Imagen de hace una hora desde Vilafranca del Penedès (@el3devuit) pic.twitter.com/Syr0Vo4BpD
— eSPAINews (@eSPAINews) October 30, 2020
A cameraman of La Sexta broadcaster was injured in the unrest.
On Thursday, the government of Catalonia announced the boost of quarantine measures, including the 15-day ban on entering and leaving the region. People are also prohibited from moving between municipalities of Catalonia at weekends. Shopping centres, theatres, cinemas, cultural centres, sports facilities, bars and restaurants remain closed.
