HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of people went on strike in several European capitals on Wednesday to demand that governments stop cutting benefits and create more jobs.
At times, some rioters clashed with police and in Spain’s case, some police also clashed with rioters.
In wealthier nations like Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark there were only small, sedate demonstrations but in Madrid and Barcelona, where the crisis is hitting particularly hard, protesters and police fought street battles resulting in dozens of people being injured and numerous arrests.
Although we do not know what happened before these violent scenes, the images shown are ones of brutal force by Spanish police.
Attack
In the video posted below, Spanish officers continuously strike a man and woman with batons as they raise their hands in defence and try and hide in a doorway. As the man and woman try and make a getaway, two police officers chase them and continue with their attack. The officers also strike a middle-aged man as he shouts at them.
che berlanga/YouTube
This video shows a woman on a bicycle being pushed, punched and beaten by a male Spanish police officer as other protesters try to intervene by pulling him away.
Actual España/YouTube
By early evening, 118 people had been arrested across Spain and 74 people, including 43 police were injured.
Some Spaniards have responded with annoyance to the violence of protesters and the way in which riot police have acted during previous demonstrations, as they fear that it will result in more violent clashes.
A riot police officer crouches over an injured protester after clashes with riot police in a general strike in Valencia, Spain.
Image: Fernando Hernandez/AP/Press Association Images.
With Spain in its second recession in three years and with a 25 per cent unemployment rate, their young people are faring the worst. At the moment, Spaniards see no end to their economic hardship.
Additional reporting AP
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