How did a social media call turn into looting in central Barcelona?

A social media call for an unauthorised gathering drew people to Barcelona's Plaça de Catalunya on Saturday. Accounts differ: La Vanguardia said hundreds, eldiario.es a few dozen. Activists built a barricade from bins and motorbikes. Three young people told La Vanguardia that people were bored at home and had come out.

Shop windows were smashed, and eldiario.es reported footage of looting on Ronda Universitat. Staff locked inside were led out through metro entrances. One report counted 30 fires set.

Ignasi Guardans said: This business in Barcelona seems quite unprecedented to me. He saw television images spreading the unrest across borders.

Salvador Illa said protest is a democratic right, but Violence has no place in Catalonia. Police sources said several people had been arrested, without giving a number.