Spanish police charge protesters in Barcelona on Catalonia's National Day

Spanish police intervened in a demonstration by left‑wing activists in Barcelona on September 11, the day Catalonia commemorates its National Day. Officers used batons and pepper spray to disperse a crowd that had gathered near the historic Plaça de Catalunya, resulting in the arrest of dozens of participants. Police said the protestors were attempting to breach a cordoned area around the Catalan government building and that several individuals were carrying banners calling for the region’s independence and for broader social reforms.

Authorities described the operation as a necessary response to maintain public order, while organizers condemned the use of force and claimed the arrests were politically motivated. The incident occurs amid heightened sensitivities surrounding the holiday, which traditionally draws large crowds and has been a flashpoint for separatist and anti‑austerity demonstrations in recent years. No serious injuries were reported, and the police have opened an investigation into the conduct of both the demonstrators and the officers involved.