Barcelona: Hundreds gathered in central Barcelona to protest the mandatory closure of bars, restaurants and other businesses in the latest effort to rein in the coronavirus.
Police have used batons to disperse protesters throwing stones and metal fences around Barcelona city hall.
Some of the protesters removed their masks and shouted “This is theft! This is a scam!”
The northeastern Catalonia region has imposed some of the strictest measures, including the closure of the hospitality industry, a 10 p.m. curfew and a ban on non-essential travel.
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The evening riots are the most violent so far that Spain has seen against pandemic-related restrictions and they followed similar discontent in France, Italy and other European countries.
With a caseload that accumulates more than one million infections and new outbreaks that are putting stress on the country's public health system, most Spaniards are again subjected to travel bans, curfews and caps on social gatherings.
Under a new nationwide state of emergency - the second this year - declared this week and expected to last until May next year, all 19 of Spain's autonomous cities and regions have been imposing a different set of restrictions.
Some protesters also accused authorities of lying about the seriousness of the outbreaks to justify curbs on personal freedom.
Health Ministry data showed 25,595 new coronavirus infections confirmed on Friday, a new record that brings the total caseload since February to 1.18 million.
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The government last week admitted that the real tally, including missed cases, could be well over 3 million infections.
With 239 new fatalities, the total death toll rose Friday to 35,878.
AP
