More than 100 injured after Spanish police break up Barcelona protest

[News_Editor]

More than 100 injured after Spanish police break up Barcelona protest

2011-05-27 23:42:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

BARCELONA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 100 people were injured on Friday after police tried to disperse protesters in Barcelona to end the almost two weeks of demonstrations against high unemployment and the Spanish government's austerity measures.

El País newspaper reported that two protesters were arrested and 121 others, including 37 police officers, were injured as police clashed with protesters. Most of the injured suffered bruises and wounds caused by beatings with police batons.

According to police, they were trying to dismantle the camp in the Plaza de Catalunya to allow cleaners to enter the square. Protesters, however, refused to move, claiming that they were being evicted.

Police surrounded a group of about 200 demonstrators, while cleaning crews removed the camp, including tents, sleeping bags, and food. Dozens of youths remained on the perimeter of the square attempting to block police vehicles and cleaning services. Hundreds of people have decided to continue protesting, and some are setting up new tents.

The spokesman for the Catalan Government, Francesc Homs, defended police actions, saying that they were just trying to allow the cleaning of the area to avoid unrest following the Champions' League final football match between FC Barcelona and Manchester on Saturday. The opposition, however, condemned the incident and criticized the authorities for attacking the peaceful protesters.

Tens of thousands of people have been protesting in the main Spanish cities to demand a reform of Spain's democratic system ahead of local and regional elections. Police were given orders not to disperse the rallies ahead of the elections, which took place on Sunday. On Friday, however, Barcelona police ordered the demonstrators to remove their tents.

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