Catalonia witnesses more than 50 people being arrested amid protests

Amid the ongoing protests in Catalonia, more than 50 people were taken into custody as demonstrations turned into public unrest and later led to altercations with the police forces. According to a statement by Mossos de Escuadra, the Catalan autonomous police force, a total of 54 people were arrested and 18 officers suffered injuries while dealing with the protesters.

Spain's worst political crisis

Protesters blocked roads, vandalised street signs, damaged shops, and fought with the police forces near the National Police building in the Catalan city of Barcelona. The unrest turned into something violent as people threw bottles and pelted stones at the police forces as the police tried to contain the situation by using rubber bullets and tear gas. 

This all started when violent protests erupted over arrests of Catalonian leaders in Barcelona. The Catalan autonomy crisis flared up on October 15 as police and protesters were engaged in a violent encounter. The clashes erupted at an airport in the Spanish city of Barcelona. This came after the Spanish Supreme Court imprisoned nine Catalan separatist leaders over their failed efforts for succession in 2017. 

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The Spanish protesters came out on streets after the court convicted them on charges such as civil disobedience, sedition, and misappropriation of funds. People numbering in thousands reached the area of protest by different modes of transport such as trains and cars alongside a lot of people who walked as the authorities had shut down the station afterward and a few who did not have vehicular transport.

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Catalonia's former VP, Oriol Junqueras, was indicted for sedition and abuse of public monetary assets and was awarded a jail term of 13 years. He was additionally barred from holding office for the duration of his jail term. Former Catalan Foreign Minister Raül Romeva, Labor Minister Dolors Bassa, and provincial government representative Jordi Turull were each indicted for similar charges and were given a jail term of 12 years. A complete ban to hold office till the time they did not complete their jail term was also awarded.

Carme Forcadell, a former speaker of the Catalan parliament, was sent to jail for 11 and a half years, while ex-minister Joaquim Forn and ex regional minister Josep Rull got 10 and a half years each. Two activists, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez, were found guilty of committing sedition and were each given nine-year prison sentences. Three other pro-freedom activists were seen as liable for insubordination and given fines and bans from holding office.

El Clasico postponed

Also, the much anticipated El Clasico between La Liga giants, Barcelona and Real Madrid, which was originally scheduled for October 26, had been postponed by the Spanish football association without any set date. The match was to be played on October 26 but was rescheduled due to the ongoing Catalan protests in Barcelona. With Barcelona and Real Madrid declining the Spanish FA's request to the match being shifted to the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, both the clubs were required to decide a new date by October 21.

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(With AP inputs)