A gathering of dozens of young people called for by social media in the center of Barcelona (northeast Spain) has led this afternoon to looting of shops, burning of containers, damage to urban furniture and clashes with the Mossos d’Esquadra, whom they have thrown stones and blunt objects at.

The protest, which has circulated on social media encouraged by the slogan “Institut Indignats” -a translation of the “Lyceés Indignés” movement, which is behind the student mobilizations of recent weeks in France- has gathered dozens of young people in Plaza de Cataluña, most of them dressed in black.

According to sources from the Catalan police, the protesters began to cause material damage to urban furniture and street disturbances, which forced the riot police to deploy and intervene to stop the incidents.

As a result of the police intervention, the demonstrators dispersed in groups around Plaza Cataluña, pursued by riot officers, who charged against some of them.

All this, among a large influx of citizens and tourists who were in the city center this Saturday afternoon and meters from the encampment for the right to housing that has been installed for weeks in Plaza Cataluña in Barcelona.

The incidents have worsened as the afternoon progressed and isolated groups of demonstrators, with their faces covered, have attempted to loot shops in the area and have broken some shop windows while setting fire to urban furniture and terrace awnings.

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