Barcelona Airport shut down as protesters clash with police, block roads (Photos)

THE Parts of Barcelona Airport was shut down this afternoon as pro Catalonian-independence protesters clashed with police.

Protesters

Photos of the fiery clashes shows police in full riot gear dealing with civilians, swinging batons at those that come within striking distance.

Rail services were suspended as separatist protesters took to the streets following Spain's Supreme Court's sentencing of nine independence leaders. 

The riot is as a result of the court ruling that sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition. They had been tried over their part in the northern Spain region's failed independence bid.

 

Three others held over their alleged part in the October 2017 referendum and independence deceleration were found guilty only of disobedience. 

They avoided jail time. None of the 12 were found guilty of rebellion, the gravest charge levelled against them.

Members of the public stepped up to the plate, blocking four main streets in Barcelona. They chanted "freedom for political prisoners" and "we'll do it again".

 

The high-speed rail link between Barcelona and France was interrupted as was the regional train network due to protests in the separatist stronghold of Girona, where people stood on the tracks wrapped in pro-independence flags.