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PROTESTS

Crisis in Catalonia: Barcelona braced for new wave of protests

Further protests are planned across Catalonia this weekend and in the run up to the general election on November 10th.

Crisis in Catalonia: Barcelona braced for new wave of protests
Photo: AFP

The group behind the recent violent protests in Barcelona called for five further days of protests to cause maximum disruption in the run up to Spain’s general election.

Tsunami Democràtic, the mysterious organization that used social media to mobilize crowds across Catalonia in protest at the sentencing of Catalan separatist leaders announced five dates of action during November and December.

READ MORE: Catalonia: Who are 'urban guerillas' behind the protests?

Using Twitter to make the announcement, Tsunami Democràtic, called for a nationwide protest across Spain on November 9th, one day before the country goes to the polls for a general election.

The group also called for action on November 11th, 12th and 13th but said it would be a “surprise”.

The final date of December 18 is when Real Madrid meet Barça in the rescheduled Clasico match, after the game was postponed last weekend during the protests.

This weekend will also see demonstrations in Barcelona.

On Friday evening at 7pm in Plaza Universitat, a protest has been called in support of students and the Catalan youth under the slogan: “If you touch our youth, you will find us on the streets. Freedom for political prisoners”.

On Saturday, October 26 in Barcelona’s Plaza de Sant Jaume, a group called “Hablamos” are calling for “dialogue and a solution to the Catalan conflict”.

Later that day, at 5pm, the  Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC) an organization that seeks the political independence of Catalonia, are planning a demonstration on the Marina de la Carrer, “to march for independence”.

The Referendum Defense Committees, (CDR), neighborhood groups set up in Catalonia to demand independence, continue to stage demonstrations across Catalonia with the slogan “we will continue on the street until there is no one left in prison”.

For the latest updates on disruption caused to  public transport, roads and public places follow the Catalan emergency services Twitter feed.

 

Since the escalation of tensions following the controversial sentencing of the Catalan leaders, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) continue with a travel advice warning that  “further gatherings and demonstrations are likely to take place” and that visitors “should exercise caution in the vicinity of demonstrations as they may occur with little or no warning”.

This warning is echoed by the US Department of State, which advises visitors to “avoid the areas of the demonstrations”, “be aware of your surroundings”, “keep a low profile” and “notify friends and family of your safety”.

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PROTESTS

Calls for special police tactics to be available across Sweden

The chairwoman of the Police Association West Region has said that police special tactics, known as Särskild polistaktik or SPT, should be available across Sweden, to use in demonstrations similar to those during the Easter weekend.

Calls for special police tactics to be available across Sweden

SPT, (Särskild polistaktik), is a tactic where the police work with communication rather than physical measures to reduce the risk of conflicts during events like demonstrations.

Tactics include knowledge about how social movements function and how crowds act, as well as understanding how individuals and groups act in a given situation. Police may attempt to engage in collaboration and trust building, which they are specially trained to do.

Katharina von Sydow, chairwoman of the Police Association West Region, told Swedish Radio P4 West that the concept should exist throughout the country.

“We have nothing to defend ourselves within 10 to 15 metres. We need tools to stop this type of violent riot without doing too much damage,” she said.

SPT is used in the West region, the South region and in Stockholm, which doesn’t cover all the places where the Easter weekend riots took place.

In the wake of the riots, police unions and the police’s chief safety representative had a meeting with the National Police Chief, Anders Tornberg, and demanded an evaluation of the police’s work. Katharina von Sydow now hopes that the tactics will be introduced everywhere.

“This concept must exist throughout the country”, she said.

During the Easter weekend around 200 people were involved in riots after a planned demonstration by anti-Muslim Danish politician Rasmus Paludan and his party Stram Kurs (Hard Line), that included the burning of the Muslim holy book, the Koran.

Police revealed on Friday that at least 104 officers were injured in counter-demonstrations that they say were hijacked by criminal gangs intent on targeting the police. 

Forty people were arrested and police are continuing to investigate the violent riots for which they admitted they were unprepared. 

Paludan’s application for another demonstration this weekend was rejected by police.

In Norway on Saturday, police used tear gas against several people during a Koran-burning demonstration after hundreds of counter-demonstrators clashed with police in the town of Sandefjord.

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