Violent clashes erupted for a fifth consecutive night in Barcelona between Catalonian separatists and Spanish police forces, following Friday's general strike during which approximately 500,000 demonstrators took to the streets, according to police estimates.
 

The city came to a standstill as pro-independence activists, marched towards Barcelona from five different cities in the region later in the day. Roads were blocked, planes were cancelled and public services were operating to a minimum. Protesters also blocked a motorway on the Spain-France border.
 

But the situation worsened as demonstrators violently clashed with Catalonian police forces on Via Laietana, near the headquarters of the Spanish National Police.
 

Black smoke rose above the city late into the night, as riots kicked off in Placa Urquinaona in the downtown area. Reports say 800 bins were set on fire, newspaper stands were set alight and 107 police cars were damaged.
 

Approximately 400 protesters fought with police officials, according to the Spanish government. The outnumbered Catalonian police force fired rubber bullets and used tear gas in an attempt to tame the situation. A water cannon was eventually deployed to the streets for the first time.
 

Police reported 35 people were treated for injuries and there were 10 arrests.

The general strike started off peacefully, with separatists gathering outside the historic site Sagrada Familia earlier in the day. As they blocked off both the entrance and the exit, tourists were briefly trapped inside, according to the Sagrada Familia press office.
 

The protests follow the sentencing of nine Catalonian politicians and activists. The sentences ranged from nine to 13, and are the direct result of the October 2017 failed referendum bid for independence, which the Spanish government deemed illegal. The convicted activists have been jailed for sedition.
 

Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, addressed the public after an EU summit on Friday, saying no act of violence will go unpunished. He added that people have a right to protest, but that it must be done peacefully.
 

Catalonia's president, Quim Torra, has condemned the violence, claiming independent violent groups are tarnishing the movement's credibility. In a television statement on Thursday, the president called on protesters to take to the streets peacefully.

"There is no reason or justification for burning cars, nor any other vandalism. Protest should be peaceful.

He added: "We cannot allow such groups to infiltrate and provoke to harm the image of a movement which counts millions of Catalans."

Catalan opposition MPs are calling on the president to resign over the way he has handled the protests. They have said Torra's actions are a complete "failure."