Spanish protesters clash with police over clean-up

Violence breaks out around Barcelona's Plaa de Catalunya, the first trouble after 12 days of protests

Protesters who have camped out in Spanish squares for the past 12 days clashed with police for the first time on Friday after authorities dismantled a camp in the centre of Barcelona.

Police and clean-up trucks moved into the Plaa de Catalunya, with about 200 protesters being corralled peacefully in the centre of the square.

Protesters were told they were not being evicted and would be allowed back, but municipal workers took away tents, mattresses, tarpaulins, computers and materials used to build the camp.

Trouble erupted when thousands of supporters arrived and blocked access roads. Police cleared routes out of the square by using batons, reportedly injuring 99 people and arresting two.

Video footage filmed in the square shows bloodied demonstrators being beaten by police. Protesters said police also used pepper spray and rubber bullets.

The Catalan regional government said it ordered police into the square only so it could be cleaned.

Authorities were reportedly concerned that the camp might be a focus for violence on Saturday night when crowds of people are expected to take to Barcelona's streets if the city's football team wins the Champions League final against Manchester United.

Demonstrators were allowed into the square after the clean-up and immediately started to rebuild the camp. A peaceful demonstration against the police action has been called for this evening in Barcelona, Madrid and dozens more cities where protesters are camped out in squares.

The clean-up came after authorities came under increased pressure from shop owners and local officials to remove the camps throughout Spain, but protesters said they would stay in place until Sunday at the earliest.


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