Police vehicles were caught on camera smashing through protesters' barricades in Barcelona as part of ongoing demonstrations in the city.

The footage was recorded on Las Ramblas as demonstrators continued to rally against a Spanish court's jailing of nine separatist leaders on sedition charges over the failed 2017 independence bid.

Hundreds again took to the streets for a seventh successive night on Sunday, with anger over the jailing showing little sign of abating.

In the video - recorded yesterday on what was the sixth-day of protests - a police van races down the street with its sirens flashing.

There is a makeshift barricade up ahead of the van which appears to have been made out of dustbins and rubbish bags. The van approaches the blockade before ploughing through it without hesitation, scattering debris across the road

There is a makeshift barricade up ahead of it which appears to have been made out of dustbins and rubbish bags.

The van approaches the blockade before ploughing through it without hesitation, scattering debris across the road.

Protesters in the distance can be seen running away and some shoot off down side streets.

The leading van smashes through two further barricades up ahead while being followed by a convoy of three other police vans. All four vehicles then weave their way down the full length of the road, which is where the video ends

The leading van smashes through further barricades up ahead while being followed by a convoy of three other police vans.

All four vehicles weave their way down the full length of the road and the video ends shortly after.

Hundreds of pro-independence protesters took to the streets of Barcelona for a seventh successive night on Sunday, with anger over the jailing of Catalan separatist leaders showing little sign of abating.

One large crowd blocked a road close to the Spanish government headquarters in Catalonia, throwing dozens of sacks of rubbish in front of stationary police vans.

Hundreds of pro-independence protesters took to the streets of Barcelona for a seventh successive night on Sunday (pictured), with anger over the jailing of Catalan separatist leaders showing little sign of abating

One large crowd blocked a road close to the Spanish government headquarters in Catalonia, throwing dozens of sacks of rubbish in front of stationary police vans. Pictured: A Catalan independence flag rises above a crowd in Barcelona

But there was no sign of the violence that has shaken Barcelona in recent days, particularly on Friday, when masked youths set fire to hundreds of garbage bins and hurled rocks, stones and bottles at security forces

A smaller group shut off a major avenue to the east of the city.

But there was no sign of the violence that has shaken Barcelona in recent days, particularly on Friday, when masked youths set fire to hundreds of garbage bins and hurled rocks, stones and bottles at security forces.

'We are people of peace,' said a sign held up by demonstrators on Meridiana Avenue.

'We are people of peace,' said a sign held up by demonstrators on Meridiana Avenue

Acting Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told reporters earlier in the day that 288 police officers had been hurt in the clashes, 267 police vehicles damaged and 194 people arrested. Several hundred protesters were also hurt

'The riots are diminishing, but we are working on stopping them altogether,' said Grande-Marlaska

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau said a policeman and a protester remained in a critical condition, adding that 'several people' had been blinded in one eye by police rubber bullets. Pictured: Demonstrators in Barcelona on Sunday night

A man wearing a mask depicting Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and holding an Estelada, the Catalonia separatist flag

Independence is a highly divisive issue in Catalonia, which is Spain's wealthiest region and has 7.5 million inhabitants. A poll in July showed backing for secession at its lowest level in two years, with 48.3 per cent of people against and 44 per cent in favour

Acting Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told reporters earlier in the day that 288 police officers had been hurt in the clashes, 267 police vehicles damaged and 194 people arrested. Several hundred protesters were also hurt.

Catalonia's secession crisis that sparked violence and forced the region's leader into exile in Belgium Long-running tensions between Madrid and Catalonia boiled over in 2017 when the region in north-east Spain held a referendum on independence. Catalonia, one of Spain's 17 autonomous regions, has a population of around 7.5 million people and includes the tourist-popular city of Barcelona. The region has its own language as well as Spanish and generates a fifth of Spain's 1.1trillion-euro ($1.3trillion) economy, but polls show its voters are divided on the question of independence. The European Union has said an independent Catalonia would not be allowed to stay in the bloc. The referendum on October 1, 2017, was organised by Catalan authorities but declared invalid by the central Spanish government, led by Mariano Rajoy. The pro-independence side won with more than 90 per cent of the vote but turnout was below half and the ballot was considered illegal by the Spanish government. Spanish national police and Civil Guard officers clashed with voters as they tried to break up balloting. More than 890 civilians and 430 police were injured when anti-riot squads moved into polling stations and dispersed voters. Spain's anti-riot squads fired rubber bullets, smashed into polling stations and beat protesters with batons. But Spanish authorities commended the police, saying their response to the voting was professional and proportionate. On October 27, 2017, separatist lawmakers declared independence in a session boycotted by opposition parties. The declaration was not recognised by any UN country and then-Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont fled to Brussels three days later. Rejecting Catalonia's move, Madrid sacked the Catalan government and imposed direct rule, dissolved its parliament and issued an arrest warrant for Puigdemont. The latter was later dropped. Spain's King Felipe VI also spoke out, urging Catalan lawmakers to respect their region's diversity and avoid confrontation over independence. New Catalan elections in December 2017 saw separatist parties triumph but the pro-independence movement remains divided. Many Catalan separatist leaders and activists who supported the referendum are either awaiting trial in prison or fled the country. Direct rule over Catalonia was removed in May 2018 when pro-separatist Quim Torra was chosen as the region's new leader, replacing Puigdemont. A month later Rajoy was ousted as Spain's prime minister and replaced by Pedro Sanchez who had shown more willingness to engage with the Catalan movement. Advertisement

'The riots are diminishing, but we are working on stopping them altogether,' said Grande-Marlaska.

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau said a policeman and a protester remained in a critical condition, adding that 'several people' had been blinded in one eye by police rubber bullets.

Independence is a highly divisive issue in Catalonia, which is Spain's wealthiest region and has 7.5 million inhabitants. A poll in July showed backing for secession at its lowest level in two years, with 48.3 per cent of people against and 44 per cent in favour.

One of the most prominent figures against self-determination, Albert Rivera, head of the pro-unionist Ciudadanos party, staged a counter-protest on Sunday and called for an end to the violence.

Addressing hundreds of flag-waving supporters, Rivera accused Spain's caretaker Socialist government of not doing enough to stop the chaos in one of Europe's tourist hotspots.

'People can't take their children to school, they can't open their businesses,' Barcelona-born Rivera said. 'We need a Spanish government that protects the weak.'

City officials estimate that the rioting has caused 2.5 million euros ($2.8 million) worth of damage.

'There are more of us Catalan Spaniards than separatists. It's important that people see that not everyone is in favour of independence,' said Martina Gonzalez, a 58-year-old cleaner who had a Spanish flag draped over her shoulders.

'I am Spanish, Spanish, Spanish,' the crowd chanted.

Spain's acting Socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, dismissed calls on Saturday from Catalonia's pro-independence regional chief to hold talks aimed at defusing the crisis.

Sanchez said Catalonia President Quim Torra must first condemn the tumult unequivocally and then build bridges with the many Catalans who do not want secession.

Spanish media reported that Torra tried to talk to Sanchez by telephone on Saturday and again on Sunday but was rebuffed. Torra said in a statement he has always condemned violence.

Pro-independence leaders staged an illegal referendum in 2017 and then declared they were breaking away from Spain.

The Spanish government of the time immediately seized control of the Catalan administration and the ringleaders were put on trial.

The Supreme Court on Monday found nine politicians and activists guilty of sedition and sentenced them to up to 13 years in jail, triggering street unrest.

The Catalan question has dominated domestic politics in recent years and was instrumental in triggering parliamentary elections in April, which gave no single party a majority.

The Socialists have called a national election next month, but a poll released on Thursday suggested parliament would remain split.

The survey found that support for Ciudadanos was plunging, suggesting Rivera is fighting for political survival.

City officials estimate that the rioting has caused 2.5 million euros ($2.8 million) worth of damage

'There are more of us Catalan Spaniards than separatists. It's important that people see that not everyone is in favour of independence,' said Martina Gonzalez, a 58-year-old cleaner who had a Spanish flag draped over her shoulders. Pictured: Protesters out in force in Barcelona on Sunday night

Spain's acting Socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, dismissed calls on Saturday from Catalonia's pro-independence regional chief to hold talks aimed at defusing the crisis. Pictured: Demonstrators hold up their phones and torches, with a Catalonian independence flag standing out