Clashes in Spain over coronavirus restrictions continue for second night

From La Rioja and Bilbao to Madrid and Malaga, protests have broken out across the country against the government's tough new restrictions.

Protest against COVID-19 measures in Spain

Protesters set up barricade on Granvia Avenue during a protest against the government's coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic restrictions in Madrid, Spain. Source: NurPhoto

Police in Spain have made dozens of arrests during clashes with protestors for a second consecutive night as demonstrators took to the streets to denounce the new coronavirus restrictions.

In some cities, looting and vandalism broke out on the fringes of the protests.

The biggest disturbances were in Madrid where scores of demonstrators chanting "freedom!" torched rubbish bins and set up makeshift barricades on the city's main thoroughfare, the Gran Via, images on social media showed.

When police moved in to clear the gathering, they were pelted with stones and flares.
Twelve people including three police officers were lightly injured in the clashes, emergency services said. Police said they arrested 32 people.

In Logrono, the capital of the northern wine-producing region of La Rioja, a small group of people burned garbage bins and smashed shop windows. 

The trouble broke out following a peaceful protest against the closure of restaurants and bars in the region as part of widening virus restriction in Spain.
Hooded youths wearing face masks ran out of a clothing shop with armfuls of items in their hand as a security alarm bared, images on local media showed.

"We earn our living working and in five minutes they destroyed our lives," the owner of the shop, Cristina Perez, told a local television station.

Police arrested six people in Logrono, a national police spokeswoman said. Another 10 people were detained in protests held in the northern cities on Bilbao and Santander, she added.

In the southern city of Malaga a small group of demonstrators overturned rubbish bins and threw bottles at police.
 Protesters block the Gran Via street in Madrid, Spain.
Riots broke out in several cities in Spain following protests against the government's new COVID-19 restrictions. Source: EFE
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the unrest.

"Violent and irrational behaviour by minority groups is intolerable. It is not the way," he tweeted.

"Only from responsibility, unity and sacrifice will we be able to defeat the pandemic that is devastating all countries."

At least 20 police officers were injured on Friday night in clashes with protesters in central Barcelona and 12 were arrested.
Spain last week imposed a nationwide nighttime curfew to try to halt the rise of COVID-19 infections and almost all of Spain's regions have imposed regional border closures to prevent long-distance travel.

Despite the many restrictions imposed in Spain since July, when the number of cases began rising again, infections have spiralled.

The virus has killed more than 35,000 people in Spain and infected more than 1.1 million. 

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits.

If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at https://sbs.com.au/coronavirus

Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW,Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania


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Source: AFP, SBS


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