The protests resulted in riots in Barcelona, Tarragona, Girona, Sabadell and Valencia.
Six people were detained in Barcelona, according to the Catalan law enforcement bodies, Mossos de Escuadra. Eight more people have been detained in Valencia, the Periodico newspaper reported.
Several people, including two law enforcement officers, were injured during the riots.
Las calles de #Barcelona durante la protesta por la liberación del rapero español #pablohasel Fotos: © Nora Olivé pic.twitter.com/GOdPQNOYNQ
— Sputnik Reporteros (@Sputnik_Report) February 18, 2021
Some protesters built barricades and set them on fire, broke shop windows, pulled out road signs, threw stones and bottles at law enforcement officers. In Barcelona, police resorted to the use of rubber bullets and batons.
Vídeos de los incidentes en la manifestación de #Barcelona de esta noche para pedir la liberación de #PabloHasel, grabados por la corresponsal Nora Olivé en la Calle Aragón pic.twitter.com/O1xU6rt6h5
— Sputnik Reporteros (@Sputnik_Report) February 18, 2021
Vídeos de los incidentes en la manifestación en #Barcelona por la liberación de #PabloHasel pic.twitter.com/RGlQ0cfvVH
— Sputnik Reporteros (@Sputnik_Report) February 18, 2021
This video shows protesters standing on the opposite side of the street from the law enforcement officers in Barcelona.
La protesta en #Barcelona contra el encarcelamiento del rapero #PabloHasel condenado por enaltecimiento al terrorismo e injurias a la Corona pic.twitter.com/V2J42TNfRg
— Sputnik Reporteros (@Sputnik_Report) February 18, 2021
A video shared on Twitter shows police officers in riot gear go down the metro station, allegedly in pursuit of protesters.
⚠️ ATENCIÓ | La BRIMO (@mossos) entra esvalotada al metro de Verdaguer perseguint manifestants.
— Emili Puig (@emilipuig_) February 18, 2021
Vídeo : Emili Puig pic.twitter.com/wNB0xfKgtb
The Catalan singer was sentenced in 2018 to nine months in prison for glorifying terrorism and slandering the Spanish monarchy on Twitter and through the lyrics of his songs. Hasel was supposed to voluntarily come to prison last Friday but he refused to do so. On Tuesday, the rapper was arrested.
The rapper's jailing caused a public outcry and debates about freedom of speech. Hundreds of artists, including Javier Bardem and Pedro Almodovar, have signed a petition against Hasel's imprisonment.
