Major disruptions on general strike day coinciding with independence trial

Several protests and disruptions began early in the morning on Thursday, as the general strike called to coincide with the trial of Catalan political leaders in Madrid got underway.

While not formally called for this reason -strikes cannot be convoked for political reasons-, the underlying aim is to protest the proceedings against 12 pro-independence officials.

Dozens of roads were cut across the country during the morning peak hour, including Catalonia's main AP-7 highway, and other key roads, such as the A-2, C-60 and C-58, among others.

In Barcelona, some streets were occupied, as were the Caixabank headquarters in Girona. Meanwhile, access to the port of Tarragona was also blocked by protesters.

Shortly after noon, some students blocked train railways at Barcelona's Plaça Catalunya station. 

Protester arrested for punching police officer

During the protests in the Catalan capital, a demonstrator was arrested for punching a police officer.

Later in the morning, the Catalan police charged at protesters blocking the AP-7 highway in Medinyà, in northern Catalonia, while some fifteen roads were still cut at around 10.30am.

Meanwhile in Girona, close to Medinyà, some 300 protesters blockaded the main entrance to the city, with some moments of tension between them and some workers of department stores.

According to the Catalan road traffic authority, the mobility in Barcelona's metro area fell by 11.4% in comparison with a normal Thursday.

Demonstrations during strike

The strike, called by the pro-independence trade union Intersindical-CSC, will also include other protests across the country, including one at noon in Barcelona's Plaça Universitat, and another one at 6pm in the Jardinets de Gràcia, in the same city.

Tarragona, Lleida, Girona and Tortosa will be among dozens of towns also hosting demonstrations against the trial throughout Thursday.