Violence has returned to the streets of Spain after a few days of tense calm following the arrest of a rapper.
Bank windows were smashed in Barcelona and at least 10 people were arrested after peaceful marches turned violent, with similar scenes in other parts of the Catalonia region.
Officers also said they apprehended a group trying to set a police van on fire.
Arrests were made after bank windows were smashed. Pic: AP
It comes after rapper Pablo Hasel was taken into custody on 16 February to serve a nine-month prison sentence.
The charges he faced include inciting terrorism – he had praised defunct groups who were responsible for killing more than 1,000 people in Spain – as well as refusing to pay fines for insulting the country’s former king.
Violence was seen following his arrest across Catalonia for more than week and more than 100 people were arrested during demonstrations.
Thousands of people had taken to the streets of Barcelona. Pic: AP
tensions had eased over the past few days but Saturday saw a return to the lawlessness
Spain’s government has pledged to get rid of prison offences for incidents involving freedom of speech.