According to the media, the king arrived on Sunday for the opening of the Mobile World Congress 2018 exhibition, making his first visit since the region held an independence referendum. There were some clashes with police, however, the protest for the most part was peaceful, 19 people received light injuries and were taken to hospital, the newspaper said.
The footage in social media shows crowds of protesters gathered in the city streets and police trying to prevent them from moving further.
#BREAKING: Tens of thousands of #Catalonia's republicans protest against the opressor Bourbon king of Spain in front of the palace in #Barcelona where he is dinning this evening. #FreeCatalanPoliticalPrisoners #DESTRONEMLOpic.twitter.com/xadfB1EzJC
— David d'Enterria *X (@denterd) February 25, 2018
The protest was reportedly organized by the Committees for the Defense of the Republic, a network of local assemblies promoting the autonomous region's independence from Madrid, especially, the Catalan independence referendum.
READ MORE: Over 10 People Detained in Rally Near Catalonia Court of Justice (PHOTO, VIDEO)
Barcelona is going off! An entire street of people are on their balconies smashing spoons against saucepan and the like to protest, I'm assuming, at the lack of a proper #independence vote. Cars honking down the street. Incredible noise. All power to them. pic.twitter.com/J4U9Ua2X3c
— Aidan Fawkes (@aidanfawkes) February 25, 2018
VIDEO: Protest against Spanish king's visit to Barcelona this evening. pic.twitter.com/rQtMpFXBIO
— Josep Goded (@josepgoded) February 25, 2018
