Fires blaze on the streets of Barcelona during night of rioting by Catalan separatists
COPS were on standby for a fresh outbreak of violence by militant separatists in the Spanish city of Barcelona.
Running battles between demonstrators and riot police have been going on for almost a week after leaders of the Catalan independence movement were jailed.
Shops and businesses were advised to close ahead of a rally planned for 6pm after the city experienced one of its worst nights of violence ever.
Overnight on Friday barricades were built and vehicles and rubbish bins set on fire by masked youths with 182 people hurt including 18 riot cops.
The city's main police station was the main target and cops responded with gas, rubber bullets and water cannon to restore order.
Football authorities have already cancelled next weekend's El Classico match between Barcelona and Madrid because of security concerns.
Tourist sites such as Gaudi's famous Sagrada Familia cathedral were also shut and some British schools have cancelled trips there.
Holidaymakers arriving for half term breaks also face getting caught up in protest with demos planned at the airport.
Protesters have vowed to carry on with the violence all this week and extra police have been drafted in to control the streets.
However, in a show of solidarity the city's locals handed flowers to police officers as they turned up for work at their main headquarters.
Spain's acting interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, balmed Catalan separatists for the violence after visiting injured cops in hospital.
He said:''The situation is under control. There is serious, organised violence but I reiterate that we are not being overwhelmed.
The majority of Catalans are against independence and want to remain part of Spain.
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