Barcelona in tension: Independent demonstrators clashed with stones and bottles against the police

Tens of thousands of people concentrated Friday in central Barcelona after arriving for three days marching from different parts of Catalonia to the so-called "Marches for Freedom", against the imprisonment of nine leaders separatists.

The protesters focused on the seductive Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona in a peaceful environment, with cries of "freedom for political prisoners".

The mobilizations were convened by the independent entities of the National Assembly of Catalonia (ANC) and Cultural Omnium, the same as since 2012 have concentrated thousands of people every September 11 to defend the secession of Catalonia.

The five "steps for freedom"On Wednesday, they left different points of Catalonia arrived in Barcelona after having traveled about 100 kilometers each.

General strike and student marches

The massive march coincides with a day of the general strike, which stood out in the most touristic city of Spain: little traffic in the center, minimal service in public transport and mass demonstrations of students.

On the famous Ramblas, the iconic Liceo Theater suspended its functions and there were almost no shops open to the Boqueria market. Another emblematic place, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, closed by the influx of protesters at the entrance.

At Barcelona Airport, 57 flights were canceled, according to the Spanish government. Dozens of routes were cut, including the AP7 motorway, where they blocked the border between Spain and France. The Martorell SEAT plant, which employs over 6,500 people, has also closed.

Even the world of football was fraught with tension: the classic Barça-Real Madrid, scheduled for Camp Nou on Saturday, October 26, has been postponed, announced the federation.

Although the majority of the demonstrations of these days were peaceful, they took place at night riots in Barcelona and other Catalan cities, a novelty in the movement for independence, up here proud of its pacifist character.

The last three nights, hundreds of young people have their faces covered they erected barricades In the luxurious Paseo de Gracia and the surrounding streets, they clashed with the police with Molotov and sour cocktails. Even on Thursday night, they ransacked a bank branch and a clothing store, according to Catalan police Mossos of Esquadra.

In all, 36 people needed medical attention Thursday in Barcelona, ​​according to the emergency services.

A new crisis at the time of the legislative elections

The crisis in Catalonia comes a few weeks after the parliamentary elections of November 10 in Spain, and put pressure on the president of the outgoing socialist government, Pedro Sánchez, to whom the right-wing opposition is demanding strong measures.

The Catalan Independent Government, which also encouraged demonstrations against the Supreme Court's decision – described as "aberrant" and "out of control". "unfair", was also subjected to strong pressure, but sent his police, the Mossos, suppress these incidents.

A tension that the Catalan president, Quim Torra, has tried to reduce by stating that he would continue "to talk about the exercise of the right to self-determination, with the consequences that entails", a- he said last night on Catalan TV, TV3.