Catalonia at a standstill
More than 20 major motorways were closed by demonstrators and CDRs around the country, and two people were arrested in Tarragona
There were traffic disruptions throughout the day, and by early morning, at least 20 major motorways and roads had been blocked by demonstrators yesterday. From the N-II in Sant Julià de Ramis to the T11 in Tarragona, the the A-2 in Sidamon, the C-32 at Masnou, the C35 in Santa Maria de Palautordera and the C-58, where queues of up to three kilometers blocked up Sabadell. As ever, the most affected motorway was the AP7, because it included the most blocks at different points, but also because it is where the most remarkable incidents took place.
At 10am, the Catalan traffic service reported that there were 30 tractors and 500 people blocking the AP7 at Medinyà. The protesters burned pallets and tyres. Finally, the riot officers charged the people who were gathered on the road. Ministry of Interior sources claim that the charge was a direct response to protesters throwing objects at police, and that six officers had to be treated for minor injuries.
The police also arrested two people in Tarragona. The first detainee was part of the thousands of protesters who tried to access the toll gateway of the AP7 there. The second arrest occurred during the blockade in the morning on the N-240. The detainee was charged with assaulting a police officer, and a public disorder offence.
In the centre of Barcelona, as a result of the demonstrations on general strike day, there were road blocks, especially in the Avinguda Diagonal, Gran Via and Meridiana. As a result of the strike, traffic was reduced by 12% compared to a normal day and the passenger numbers on the metro decreased to 24%.