Catalan president Salvador Illa has condemned violence at the end of a housing strike march in Barcelona on Wednesday 11th November, after an Apple store was vandalised and other businesses were targeted. The protest had called for access to housing, but the evening ended with damage to shops and clashes with police in streets used by residents and shoppers.

Crónica Global reported that the façade of the Apple store in Plaça de Catalunya, the central square, was vandalised after a peaceful march. The outlet said violence began from 8pm onwards.

By 9pm, a provisional count put the number of people detained at eight, Crónica Global reported. Illa, who leads the Generalitat, Catalonia's regional government, posted a statement on social media distinguishing the violence from the peaceful demonstration:

“Neither violence nor vandalism represent the people who have demonstrated peacefully throughout the day. Protest is legitimate, violence is not.”

Illa also expressed support for the Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, and other security forces working to restore order.

Shops targeted after the peaceful march

The peaceful march travelled from Plaça Cinc d'Oros to Via Laietana, according to Crónica Global. It reported that several hundred hooded people later gathered in Plaça de Catalunya and on Passeig de Gràcia.

Reports described damage and confrontations at several locations:

  • Plaça de Catalunya: the Apple store's façade and access were damaged, according to Crónica Global.
  • Passeig de Gràcia: hooded people forced their way into a Stradivarius clothing shop after breaking its window protection, taking clothes or throwing them into the street, according to COPE.
  • Central Barcelona: people threw fireworks and blunt objects at Mossos officers, and police made several charges, Crónica Global reported.

COPE reported that people also tried to set fire to the Apple store and that officers intervened. Some demonstrators who opposed the attack applauded the police action, the broadcaster said.

Government response to the disturbances

Illa met government ministers and senior police commanders several times at the Palau de la Generalitat to follow the day's events, according to Crónica Global. At a 4pm appearance, minister Albert Dalmau had called for the civility shown during the morning's protests to continue.

Illa's statement followed looting in central Barcelona two weeks earlier, which Crónica Global linked to the Blocus phenomenon. The provisional detention figure reported at 9pm on Wednesday was eight.

Sources: Crónica Global, Mossos d'Esquadra, cope.es.