- Title: Trash containers ablaze in Catalan pro-independence protest
- Date: 1st October 2020
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (OCTOBER 1, 2020) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS DRAGGING TRASH CONTAINERS AND MAKING BARRICADES WITH THEM PROTESTERS LIGHTING TRASH CONTAINERS POLICE VAN APPROACHING PROTESTERS, VAN BEING HIT BY PROTESTERS TRASH CONTAINERS BURNING PROTESTERS MOVING TRASH CONTAINERS TOWARDS FIRE VARIOUS OF BARCELONA CITIZEN REMOVING PLASTIC FENCES FROM FIRE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF TRASH CONTAINER TO PREVENT PROTESTERS FROM PUSHING IT IN TO THE FLAMES BARCELONA RESIDENT KICKING CARDBOARD BOX AWAY FROM FLAMES FIRE ENGINE DRIVING PAST RIOT POLICE PUSHING PROTESTER RIOT POLICE HOLDING PROTESTER ON THE GROUND RIOT POLICE HITTING PROTESTER WITH A BATON PROTESTERS BUILDING BARRICADES WITH TRASH CONTAINERS PROTESTERS RUNNING AWAY AND POLICE VANS APPROACHING RIOT POLICE ARRESTING MAN (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) PRO-INDEPENDENCE SUPPORTER, TONI MANANE, 60, SAYING: "Obviously, the ban of the very honourable President Torra increases the tension within the pro-independence movement and in the next elections we will see how "the souffle" does not go down but rises." (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) STUDENT, MERCE, 19, SAYING: "We are at a difficult point - the ban of Torra, all the political prisoners and also the merger of CaixaBank (a Catalan bank) with Bankia, really sets back the independence that we have been seeking for a long time." (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) PRO-INDEPENDENCE SUPPORTER, FRANCESC, 65, SAYING: "We failed because we put some politicians (in power) who told us a series of things and told us that they were very good people, and now we no longer want good people but bad people, to win a war you don't win it with good people." PROTESTERS AT SANT JAUME SQUARE CARRYING A BANNER READING (Catalan): "NOT A STEP BACK / INDEPENDENCE / CDR (REPUBLIC DEFENCE COMMITTEE)" PROTESTER HOLDING FLARE PROTESTERS THROWING FLYERS AND OTHER OBJECTS AT POLICE OUTSIDE CATALAN GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS SANT JAUME SQUARE, CATALAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS FACADE DECORATED WITH FOUR RED STRIPES SYMBOLISING THE FOUR STRIPES OF THE CATALAN FLAG PROTESTER WAVING CATALAN FLAG PROTESTERS CARRYING A BANNER READING (Catalan): "NOT A STEP BACK / INDEPENDENCE" AND PICTURES OF PRO-INDEPENDENCE POLITICIANS RIOT POLICE OFFICER CARRYING A RUBBER BULLET GUN VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE STANDING IN LINE
- Embargoed: 15th October 2020 23:38
- Keywords: 1-October 1-Octubre Catalonia Quim Torra burning trash pro-independence protest scuffles separatists
- Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA001CYAS3T3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds of Catalonia pro-independence protesters demonstrated in Barcelona on Thursday (October 1) to mark the third anniversary of the region's failed declaration of independence from Spain.
Protesters gathered at Sant Jaume Square in front of the regional government building holding a banner reading "Not a step back" in Catalan, and cheering in support of independence.
A small group of hooded protesters moved to Catalonia Square where they set trash containers alight. Some locals tried to stop them from feeding the flames.
Earlier this week a few members of Catalonia's separatist Committee for the Defense of the Republic (CDR) scuffled with police as they protested against Spain's Supreme Court ruling to uphold regional leader Quim Torra's 18-month ban from public office on charges of disobedience.
The case stems from Torra's refusal, during a national election campaign in 2019, to follow orders from Spain's electoral committee to remove a banner supporting jailed separatists from the main facade of his government palace.
Catalonia's 7.5 million people are split over independence, with the latest opinion poll showing 42% in favour and 50% against.
Catalonia's separatist drive has dominated Spanish politics for several years, in particular since the regional assembly made a unilateral declaration of independence in October 2017 following a referendum declared illegal by judges.
(Production: Jordi Rubio, Luis Felipe Castilleja, Silvio Castellanos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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