Riot Police Move Against Catalan Protesters Blocking France-Spain Border Crossing

The organizers of a pro-Catalan independence protest blocking a road on the France-Spain border said on the second day, November 12, that Spanish and French riot police were attempting to clear demonstrators.

Protesters blocked the AP7 motorway at La Jonquera crossing on November 11, parking cars, and setting up camps and a stage, video from the scene showed.

On November 12, social media posts and local reports said French riot police began to use tear gas in an effort to clear the protesters. Police from the Spanish side also made efforts to clear the site, reports said.

The border protest was the latest to follow the sentencing last month of nine of Catalan separatist leaders to lengthy jail terms. Credit: Quim Marce via Storyful