Police have clashed with protesters in Barcelona in a flare-up of violence over the imprisonment of nine separatist leaders for their role in an illegal 2017 secession bid.

The clash comes after around 350,000 people rallied peacefully during the day, with many waving pro-independence flags for Catalonia.

Image: People wave Catalan pro-independence 'Estelada' flags during a peaceful pro-independence demonstration

Image: Police clash with pro-independence protesters during a demonstration called by the local Republic Defence Committees (CDR)

On Saturday night, several hundred Catalan pro-independence protesters, the majority wearing masks, surrounded the national police headquarters in downtown Barcelona.

Riot police charged at the large crowd swinging batons following a two-hour standoff, during which demonstrators threw bottles, rocks and rubber bullets at officers.

The protest was organised by CDR, a pro-independence pressure group known for using direct action, including storming the regional parliament.


Protesters in the city have clashed with police every night since 14 October - angry with the decision to jail pro-independence leaders for their role in Catalonia's failed attempt to secede from Spain two years ago.

The daytime peaceful rally was organised by the main pro-secession grassroots groups who want to create a new state in northeastern Spain.

"We cannot accept that [the prisoners] have been condemned to terms of nine to 13 years for defending the self-determination of Catalans," the president of the pro-secession grassroots group ANC, Elisenda Paluzie, said.

Image: Several hundred protesters surround the Spanish police headquarters in Barcelona

Image: Police clash with demonstrators outside the police headquarters

Over the past week, rioters have thrown petrol bombs, acid and concrete at the police, as well as setting hundreds of bins on fire and using nails to damage police vehicles.

Some protesters even threw fireworks at a police helicopter - but no serious damage was caused.

Image: Pro-independence masked protesters took part in a stand-off with police on Saturday night

Barcelona mayor pleads for calm as violence continues

Police have fought back using rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon while dressed in riot gear.

Nine Catalan officials were given sentences of nine to 13 years for sedition by the Supreme Court.

Four of those were also convicted of misuse of public funds and the other three were fined for disobedience.

The group had attempted to break Catalonia - the small northeastern region home to Barcelona - away from Spain following the illegal vote.

Following the sentencing, the Supreme Court issued a European arrest warrant for Catalonia's former president, Carles Puigdemont, who is living in self-imposed exile in Belgium.

The sentencing on 14 October sparked peaceful protests in Barcelona and other Spanish cities which later resulted in violent clashes with police over the past week.

The riots have seen over 500 people injured, including police, and led to over 150 arrests.