The riots following the demonstration for the right to housing on Monday, October 5, leave 30 officers of the Mossos d'Esquadra injured and 13 arrested, including a minor. A crowd of between 500 and 800 people attacked the police with cobblestones and barriers in the centre of the Catalan capital.
The balance of the riots on Monday, October 5 in the centre of Barcelona is 30 officers of the Mossos d'Esquadra injured and 13 arrested, including a minor. All injured police officers are out of danger, according to police sources.
The demonstration for the right to housing had gathered thousands of people and proceeded peacefully. It was when the demonstration was called off that a group of between 500 and 800 people, according to police estimates, began to provoke disturbances and confront the deployed forces.
Construction works on streets adjacent to Paseo de Gracia turned into an improvised arsenal. The rioters threw cobblestones, stones, and barriers at the officers and also at journalists covering the events.
Consulted police sources acknowledge their concern about the number of young people involved in the riots, a dimension that exceeded the usual expectations for this type of gathering in the city.
Public order forces were forced to retreat and reorganise their positions in the face of the rain of blunt objects. The situation escalated into a pitched battle that had little to do with the initial demands.
"Barcelona is not unfamiliar with certain demonstrations ending violently. But what happened last Monday exceeded usual expectations"
The same officers who ensured the right to protest for hours ended up being the target of those who decided to confront them at the end of the day. Attacking a police officer will not result in more housing being built tomorrow.
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