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Barcelona protests: Hundreds of thousands to join rally after Catalan separatist leaders jailed

Major roads blocked off across Catalonia and main streets in Barcelona closed to traffic in anticipation of marches

Friday 18 October 2019 12:27 BST

Students wave a Catalan pro-independence flag as they protest during a demonstration in front of the police headquarters in Barcelona (AFP via Getty Images)

Thousands of pro-independence supporters from Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia are pouring into Barcelona for what will be the fifth day of protests.

Local unions have also called for a general strike on Friday and thousands from around the region took part in the cross-country march arriving in the Catalan capital today.

Many can be seen waving pro-independence flags and carrying signs and banners as they march towards Barcelona.

The recent unrest in the capital of the Catalan region was sparked by the Spanish Supreme Court’s decision on Monday to jail nine separatist leaders for their role in a failed 2017 independence referendum.

The decision quickly set off protests across the region and while many of the demonstrators engaged in peaceful action, a number have escalated tensions by setting fire on bins and cars and clashing with police forces.

Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures

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1/14Every 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

Major roads were blocked off across Catalonia on Friday and several main streets in Barcelona were closed to traffic in anticipation of the marches, as well as picket lines that had begun springing up, while regional trains and the city's metro were running on a reduced timetable.

It is just the latest disruption in the city which has struggled with business as usual as the protests mar the typically peaceful tourist destination.

Barcelona's El Prat airport, forced to cancel around 150 flights this week after it was barricaded by thousands of people, was running normally for the most part, according to Spain's ministry of public works.

Around 36 flights operated by Vueling were cancelled on Friday due to the strike, the Spanish low-cost airline owned by IAG said on Twitter.

Barcelona town hall said 400 refuge containers were set ablaze during protests on Wednesday and estimated the city had suffered damage totalling more £860,000.

Thursday began with largely peaceful protests as young people draped in Catalan flags tossed balls and skipped rope.

The mood shifted later in the night, with protesters setting fire to cafe chairs lining the fashionable Rambla de Catalunya street in the heart of Barcelona's tourist district.

Regional police said 16 people were arrested across Catalonia, while health officials said medical aid was provided to 42 people.

Car manufacturer Seat said it had halted production at its plant in Martorell, near Barcelona, from Thursday afternoon until Saturday, over concerns that the marches would disrupt traffic, a company spokeswoman said.

Additional reporting by Reuters

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