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Riots in Barcelona today

olle | 12.10.2002 13:51 Barcelona EU

Riots broke out in Barcelona earlier today (Saturday 12th)
Eye-witness report:

A antifascist demonstration in the central parts of Barcelona turned into riots just a few hours ago. It is unclear to me at the present moment what groups are behind the demonstration. According to some sources the organisation "Accion Antifascista" who have been associated with black block tactics during resent years of mass-protests in Europe.



11.00: A relativly large croud gathers at Plaza Urquinaona for a antifascist demonstration.

(about)12.30: The demonstration is heading west towards Plaza Catalunya, when stopped by a large number of police in full riot gear, blocking the road.
The first confrontations take place. Protesters hurling bottles. Police chasing protesters back towards Plaza Urquinaona.

(about) 12.40: Police attempting to surround Plaza Urquinaona. First
barricades going up. Most protesters retreat north on Pau Claris heading towards Gran Via. Police follow. The protesters who remain on Plaza Urquinaona head back towards Plaza Catalunya.

12.45: About 20 police vans arrive at Plaza Catalunya. All protesters
heading towards Gran Via. The side-streets of Passeig de Gràcia are blocked by barricades.

(about) 12.50: A large group of protesters (I would guess around 300),
continue along Gran Via towards Plaza Universidad. Barricades are set up on Gran Via blocking traffic. Chairs and outdoor furniture are thrown into the street. Again confrontations with police.


(about)13.00: Protesters arrive at Plaza Universidad and join with another group of protesters who are coming from Ronda Universidad. Police are in the background, waiting for reinforcements. Probably there are riots in other parts of the city at this point.

13.05: Protesters head down along Ronda Sant Antoni. Banks and the windows of some large corporations are smashed.

13.10: On Ronda Sant Antoni large barricades are being built using garbage disposal containers (they are on every street corner) and glas-recyceling "igloos".

(about) 13.15: Police charge the barricades with armoured vans, driving directly into them. Prostesters are running aimlessly.

13.30: Protesters are shattered into a large number of smaller groups
heading in different directions. Confrontaitions are taking place on a large number of places around the city, some confrontations are as far off as Plaza España, police and protesters playing what seems like a cat and mouse game.
Riots contuniue for at least an hour on variuos places. A large number of arrests has been made (unknown how many at the moment - i saw at least 5 arrests myself).

In the present moment riots might still be going on in the city. The police helicopter is still circulation above an area close to Paral-lel. Just about 20 minutes ago I witnessed a confrontaition between protestors an a group of fascists near the university. I can hear the sound of police sirens as I am writing this.

olle

Comments

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Latest from Barcelona

12.10.2002 18:11

Check the latest information from Barcelona's anti-fascist demo and up to the minute timeline of events from:
www.lahaine.org

antifeixista!
- Homepage: http://www.lahaine.org


opinion on the riots

14.10.2002 13:25

A good friend of mine wrote me a comment on my article about the Barcelona-riots. I think he makes a really good point:



I red your message from the riots of Barcelona just when the bombs in Helsinki
and on Bali broke the news.

To me, it is striking that all these things hapen just when the opposition to
the mad war on Irak and to the criminal Israeli policy is gaining momentum
around the world.

I would not the least be astonished if it later turned out that we are facing
the same type of destabilisation campain that the extreme right and the CIA
fostered in the seventies in Europe. There nothing like bombs and riots to get
the public opinion where the right wants it, specially when the right is in
control of the media.

This type of framing of public opinion by discrediting whoever is in the way of
"They who decide" has been used time and again in history, by all kinds of
rulers and organizers of state coup.

So, dear comrade, whatch you neck, and do not let manipulated kids or
provocateurs drow you in that kind of charade.
Libertarians have all too often been used as shelter or facade by provocateurs
because of their broad-mindedness and open structures. Usually, the agent
provocateur gets away with it, and some anarchist is framed up by the police and
ends up in jail or turns up dead.
I know you are a non-violent kid, but still, it is easier to be drown in than
not when things turn nasty: i is enough to just happen to be where things
happen. (Remember Gothemburg)

These words are for you, but you may spread them if you whish.

Let's focus on trying to stop the US and british agression on Irak, just now.
There is an opinion to win that is easy to lose.

And it could be too late on November 4th, when elections are over in the USA.
Europe has several seats in the security council of the UN, and european public
opinion matters when opportunists like Chirac put their finger out to check on
how the wind blows. Because there are several elections in France in 2004,
beside the european election.

olle