Some forty thousand people gathered on Reina Maria Cristina avenue between the Venetian Towers this Sunday, 24th of September 2021. During the second night of the Mercè festivities in Barcelona.
Although prior to Barcelona's main festival, Mayor Ada Colau said: "There will be no street party for La Mercè", these days we have seen how thousands of young people have gathered in Espanya square or on the beach of Bogatell organizing massive drinking parties through social networks.
A group of young people drink alcohol around a sign indicating where a vaccination point against Covid-19 is located, during the big drinkfest that attracted around 40,000 people to Espanya square, last Friday, during the Mercè festivities.
Anti-riot officers of the UREP of the Guàrdia Urbana go down some stairs near the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc at the beginning of the incidents between the youths and the police.
A group of youngsters drink cocktails in Espanya square while dancing to music coming from a big loudspeaker being held by a girl. A lot of youths, in some cases under age, participated in these massive street parties on the nights of La Mercè festival in Barcelona.
Two young men sit at a bus stop in Plaça d'Espanya in Barcelona. At the front, the cars were driving around, avoiding the people and glass in the middle of the road. The Guàrdia Urbana did not divert the traffic even though the roundabout was full of people.
A UREP anti-riot officer beating a young man with a baton during the riots. Next to him, two young men nervously apologise to the officers from inside a car. They had got into the car to drink and listen to music and when it was time to leave the car’s battery was dead.
A group of young people move the containers and metallic fences to use them as barricades against the police line of the Guàrdia Urbana anti-riot police. In the background, two cars were set on fire and the "Palau de Congressos" has suffered multiple damage, all its exterior glass walls were shattered.
Two young people take "speed" during the massive drinking parties in Espanya square last Thursday the 23th of September, 2021.
A young man throws a fire extinguisher after emptying it towards the police line. Friday night ended with dozens of medical interventions by the emergency services, thirteen of them for stab wounds.
A group of UREP anti-riot police officers run along the Reina Maria Cristina avenue in Barcelona while numerous youths were hurling bottles at the police line.
A young man, his legs bloodied, is dragged by a Guardia Urbana anti-riot police officer into the Palau de Congresos to be arrested. A total of twenty arrests were made during Friday night's riots.
wo anti-riot police officers from the ARRO of the Mossos Esquadra in front of motorbikes set on fire by youths on the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes in Barcelona during the riots on Friday after the massive street drinking binge that brought together around 40,000 people.
A cypress tree near the Fira of Barcelona is set on fire by youths during the riots with the police moments after the massive street parties in Espanya square on Friday the 24th of September 2021. The youths burned trees, containers, two cars and several motorbikes.
Two officers of the UREP of the Guardia Urbana hold position on the police line in front of the few remaining youths in the riots while the youths continue to hurl bottles at the police. After the day was over, the ground of the Espanya square was littered with rubbish and broken glass.
Barcelona City Council worker puts up a piece of paper indicating that the bus stop is out of service, as it has been completely vandalised. The incidents between the youths and the police did not end until around 8 am.