Barcelona:Spanish police intervened on Saturday as protests organized by young people in Barcelona escalated into violence.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, hundreds of young individuals dressed in black gathered at Catalonia Square in response to a call circulated on social media under the Catalan-language hashtag "Institut Indignats," which was inspired by the Lycees Indignes movement that has led student protests in France recently.

The protests turned violent as some demonstrators began looting shops, setting trash containers on fire, and hurling stones and bottles at security personnel, prompting police action. Following the intervention, the protesters dispersed into groups, leading to clashes on side streets where some individuals were injured and others detained.

The unrest occurred in the central area of Barcelona, near a protest camp established weeks ago to demand housing rights, amidst crowds of residents and tourists. As a result, Barcelona's municipal police, known as the Guardia Urbana, announced the closure of several streets in the city center, with many shops lowering their shutters to avoid potential damage.

Salvador Illa, president of the Catalan regional government, condemned the violence and vandalism, stating, "An attack, a threat or an act of causing damage is not a democratic right. Anyone who does this will pay the price." He emphasized that violence has no place in Catalonia and there is no justification for it.