Barcelona protests turn violent: 100 arrested in Catalan capital

Around 100 people were arrested in Barcelona on Saturday after hundreds of young people gathered for protests that turned violent, with shops looted and property damaged. The demonstrations followed a social media call, though the exact purpose of the protests remained unclear. Police reported that rioters damaged street furniture, bicycles, and motorcycles, set fire to garbage containers, and looted stores. About a quarter of those arrested were minors, and over 220 officers were deployed to control the situation, which began around 6 p.m. and continued into the night. Catalan President Salvador Illa condemned the violence, stating it has no place in the region, while Barcelona's mayor, Jaume Collboni, promised consequences for the perpetrators. Similar protests with violent incidents also occurred in French and Italian cities, with participants citing grievances like high living costs.