Catalonia not comparable to Hong Kong, says president

The Catalan president Quim Torra has played down concerns that the independence movement could follow the footsteps of Hong Kong protesters after thousands blocked Barcelona airport on Monday.

"I don’t think the two cases are comparable," said Torra, justifying the turmoil that took over major infrastructure across Catalonia in response to the lengthy prison sentences for 9 Catalan leaders who led the 2017 independence push.

The head of the Catalan government stressed that Monday’s widespread protests were a consequence of the Spanish Supreme Court verdict, and defended the independence movement as "peaceful, democratic, and non-violent."

On Monday, independence supporters were met by the forceful response of police officers, who used batons and shot rubber bullets to stop protesters from stopping all activities at the airport.

At least 13 people received medical attention, and a protester injured by a rubber bullet was at risk of losing his eye as he underwent surgery on Tuesday.