Clashes in Barcelona during Catalonia's national day

Hundreds of left-wing Catalan separatist demonstrators clashed with police in Barcelona overnight during observances of Catalonia’s national day.

Police response and street unrest

Authorities intervened using specialized police vehicles to disperse parts of the demonstrations after some protesters threw objects at police vehicles. A garbage bin was set alight and sirens could be heard echoing through the streets as officers moved to contain the unrest.

The disturbances came after an earlier gathering by a smaller group of right-wing demonstrators who had come out in support of Spain’s unity.

This year’s national day was marked by pronounced divisions within the Catalan separatist movement, with rival currents taking part in separate events and some confrontations spilling into the night.

There were no individual public figures identified as central to the clashes in initial reports; authorities described the incidents as localized street confrontations between rival groups and the police.

Police statements said the intervention aimed to prevent further escalation and to keep main thoroughfares clear, while local emergency services responded to reports of minor fires and disruptions to traffic caused by the protests.

Photo: press material from the event