Protests in Barcelona

Mass protests began on October 14 in Catalonia after nine Catalan separatist leaders were sentenced to between 9 and 13 years behind bars. Among them are former leaders of the autonomous region and organizers of the 2017 referendum on Catalonia's independence. Their case was heard in Madrid for about two years, but the verdict was announced only on October 14.

The court also renewed the extradition warrant for the former president of the government of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, who actively fought for the region's independence and is now hiding in Belgium. The Spanish judicial authorities accuse him of separatism.

On the night of October 17, demonstrators burned cars, attacked police with Molotov cocktails, launched pyrotechnic rockets at a police helicopter, built barricades, etc. 20 people were detained over the riots.