display

Barcelona (AP) - After two quiet nights, protests against the arrest of a musician for insulting the royal family broke out again in Spain.

The Catalan police announced on Twitter on Sunday that 13 people were arrested in Barcelona late on Saturday evening.

The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the riots at the demonstrations for more freedom of expression and freedom of artists.

«Vandalism and violence» are «unacceptable», wrote the socialist politician on the social network.

Sánchez had previously promised better protection of freedom of expression.

After a peaceful rally in which, according to media estimates, around 4,000 people took part, several dozen masked demonstrators set fire to a police vehicle, garbage container and the entrance area of ​​a hotel on the Las Ramblas promenade in the center of Barcelona.

Among other things, they also devastated bank branches and looted several shops.

display

Since the arrest of the rapper Pablo Hasél, who was sentenced to nine months in prison for insulting the monarchy and glorifying violence, on February 16, violent rallies have taken place in various cities in Spain.

But the epicenter of the protests is the musician's Catalan homeland.

Hasél, whose real name is Pablo Rivadulla Duró, had refused to serve the sentence voluntarily and barricaded himself for days in the University of Lleida.

The 32-year-old had called the old King Juan Carlos, who fled to Abu Dhabi more than six months ago after corruption allegations and in view of judicial investigations, among other things a “thief” and built fantasies of violence against conservative politicians into his texts.

He himself sees this covered by the freedom of the artist.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210228-99-626619 / 2

display

Message from the Catalan Police

Tweet Sánchez

El Mundo report