Barcelona sees a sixth night of violence over unknown rapper jailed for insulting the Spanish monarchy on Twitter

• Demonstrators threw bottles and firecrackers at police on Sunday night
• The protest in central Barcelona was the latest against the jailing of Pablo Hasel 
• Hasel was handed a nine-month sentence and more than £25,000 fine over tweets and videos that glorified terrorism and criticised the monarchy
• Supporters say jailing Hasel is an assault on free speech and disproportionate 

Protests have raged for a sixth night in Barcelona with masked demonstrators throwing bottles, firecrackers and other missiles at police.

As in previous days, Sunday’s rallies began peacefully but descended into violence as night fell, with a crowd of several hundred people marching to the National Police headquarters. 

Protesters chanted ‘Freedom for Pablo Hasel’ in support of a little-known rapper jailed over his incendiary tweets and lyrics.

Protests have raged for a sixth night in Barcelona with masked demonstrators throwing bottles, firecrackers and other missiles at police. Pictured: A man throws a bollard at police officers on Sunday

As in previous days, Sunday’s rallies began peacefully but descended into violence as night fell, with a crowd of several hundred people marching to the National Police headquarters. Pictured: A bin is thrown at police officers

Several hundred protesters gathered on Sunday. Pictured: A crowd marches behind a sign reading: You have taught us that being peaceful is useless

Protesters chanted ‘Freedom for Pablo Hasel’ in support of a little-known rapper jailed over his incendiary tweets and lyrics. Pictured: Demonstrators carry a bin to throw at police protecting the National Police station

Catalan police were pelted with rocks, bottles, bins and firecrackers for half an hour before they moved in to clear the street in front of the station. 

Shops in Barcelona’s city centre once again fell prey to vandals who smashed their windows, while some protesters set up barricades on the city’s Las Ramblas boulevard.

Sunday’s protest was calmer than those of previous nights which escalated into violent clashes. 

Catalan police were pelted with rocks, bottles, bins and firecrackers for half an hour before they moved in to clear the street in front of the station

Sunday’s protest was calmer than those of previous nights which escalated into violent clashes. Pictured: Catalan police officers

Seven arrests were made at the protest on Sunday. Pictured: Police stand in position blocking a street on Sunday

Police move to break up a protest outside the National Police station in Barcelona on Sunday

Earlier in the day, graffiti artists painted a mural depicting Spain’s King Felipe VI and his father, former king Juan Carlos I, alongside dictator Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain from 1939-1975, in solidarity with Hasel.

Seven people were arrested on Sunday, part of the more than 100 to have been detained in Barcelona and other cities in Spain’s northern Catalan region since Tuesday.

Angry demonstrations erupted after police detained 32-year-old Hasel and took him to jail to start serving a nine-month sentence in a highly contentious free speech case.

Graffiti artists painted a mural depicting Spain’s King Felipe VI (left) and his father, former king Juan Carlos I (centre) alongside dictator Francisco Franco (right), who ruled Spain from 1939-1975. It reads: Here is censorship, repression, torture like under dictatorship

Unrest on Saturday saw protesters smash their way into shops along Barcelona’s glitzy Passeig de Gracia shopping avenue, looting stores such as Nike, Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss and Diesel.

Known for his hard-left views, Hasel was handed a nine-month sentence over tweets glorifying terrorism and videos inciting violence. 

The court ruling said freedom of expression could not be used ‘as a “blank cheque” to praise the perpetrators of terrorism’.

The court ruling against Hasel said freedom of expression could not be used ‘as a “blank cheque” to praise the perpetrators of terrorism’. Pictured: Police on Sunday

Hasel was also fined about 30,000 euros (£25,916) for insults, libel and slander for tweets likening former king Juan Carlos I to a mafia boss for his links to Saudi royals and accusing police of torturing and killing demonstrators and migrants. Pictured: Protesters hold a road sign on Sunday

Hasel’s case has become a cause celebre among campaigners, who say that jailing him is a disproportionate response and a dangerous assault on free speech. Pictured: Crowds of protesters on Sunday

Shops in Barcelona’s city centre once again fell prey to vandals who smashed their windows, while some protesters set up barricades on the city’s Las Ramblas boulevard

He was also fined about 30,000 euros (£25,916) for insults, libel and slander for tweets likening former king Juan Carlos I to a mafia boss for his links to Saudi royals and accusing police of torturing and killing demonstrators and migrants.

His case has become a cause celebre among campaigners, who say that jailing him is a disproportionate response and a dangerous assault on free speech.

Anti-monarchy sentiment is strong in Spain, particularly in the semi-autonomous Catalonia, which is home to an influential independence movement. 

Anti-monarchy sentiment is strong in Spain, particularly in the semi-autonomous Catalonia, which is home to an influential independence movement. Pictured: Protesters on Sunday

Seven people were arrested on Sunday, part of the more than 100 to have been detained in Barcelona and other cities in Spain’s northern Catalan region since Tuesday

Spanish police collect bags looted from a shop during Sunday’s protests. Shops in central Barcelona have had windows smashed and items stolen over several evenings

A security officer surveys damage done to a shop during protests in central Barcelona on Sunday

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