Police charges against separatist protesters in Barcelona

(Barcelona) Police repeatedly charged separatist protesters Monday near the entrance to Barcelona airport, an AFP journalist said.

Updated on October 14, 2019 at 12:02 Posted on October 14, 2019 at 10:27 am

Daniel BOSQUE
France Media Agency

The protesters had gathered at the airport to block it in reaction to the sentencing of nine separatists to terms ranging from nine to 13 years in prison for their role in securing Catalonia's secession in 2017.

A call on the social networks led to the blocking of roads leading to the airport, the access of which was controlled by numerous police vans, in the direction of which the demonstrators shouted "outside the occupying forces!" AFP noted.

"We can not stay at home." Barely a few minutes after the announcement of the condemnation of their leaders, the Catalan separatists were already blocking streets of Barcelona in protests "parties to last", according to them.

Oscar Quiles was about to arrive at his office when sentences of up to thirteen years in prison imposed on nine separatist officials for their role in the October 2017 secession attempt were made public.

Without hesitation, he called his mother to go with him to the city center in Plaza Catalunya, the meeting point of many militants since early morning.

"It's a historic day, it feels like air. There are very serious things going on, we can not stay at home, "explains the 47-year-old real estate agent.

At midday, thousands of people were gathered in the square with banners that read "freedom for political prisoners" or "we will do it again" before heading to the airport to try and block it. .

From dawn, tension was palpable in the Catalan metropolis, flown over by a helicopter. Many police vans were already protecting potential targets for protesters such as train stations, court buildings and the airport.

Separatist activists have been preparing their response to these convictions by the Spanish Supreme Court for weeks and have created a platform called "Democratic Tsunami" to organize demonstrations.

Encrypted messaging

"Tomorrow, let's all be ready! The answer to the sentence will be immediate! ", Warned Sunday this organization whose representatives are anonymous on a group of telegram encrypted messaging, followed by 150,000 people.

On Monday, spontaneous demonstrations took place a few minutes after the announcement of the sentences before the companies while many students left their university and that elected officials organized a rally in the regional parliament.

In the coming days, marches are planned to try to paralyze the region, as well as demonstrations in several cities and a general strike on Friday.

"Now we have to mobilize (…) Block airports, train stations but always avoiding violence," Joan Guich, a 19-year-old student, explained during one of the first mobilizations in Barcelona.

"The only way we have left is disobedience," added Juli Cuellar, a 44-year-old official, a few meters away.