MADRID (Sputnik) – The third demonstration against the eviction of residences of the so-called Banc Expropiat, an abandoned building that formerly housed a bank which has been occupied by squatters since 2011, took place late on Wednesday before being dispersed by police at around 11 p.m. local time (21:00 GMT), El Periodico de Catalunya newspaper reported.
Skirmishes occurred in different parts of the Gracia district of Barcelona, the publication said, adding that windows were smashed, containers set on fire and flares fired during the clashes. The riot broke out when police blocked the Travessera de Gracia street to prevent demonstrators from reaching the Placa de la Revolucio square.
Evictions from Banc Expropiat started on Monday, in accordance with a court order passed in November. Some 500 people held a rally in support of the squatters on Tuesday, which descended into a riot. The disturbances are the biggest seen in Barcelona since 2014, when tens of thousands protested the eviction of the unofficial Can Vies civic center.