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Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Warning as Spanish protestors 'armed with water-pistols' set new date for chaos
Overtourism campaigners in Barcelona have set a time, date and place for their next protest, which will see them revitalise tactics that captured headlines last year Anti-tourism activists are planning to arm themselves with water pistols and soak holidaymakers. On June 15 tourists in Spain may want to keep an eye out and dry towel in their tote bag. One of the city's leading anti-tourism organizations has announced a new protest encouraging the use of water pistols. The organization, which was behind last year's rally, has pledged to "disrupt the tourist normality". Daniel Pardo Rivacoba, a member of the Assembly of Neighborhoods for Tourism Degrowth, spoke about the power of the water pistol. He described it as "a popular symbol of resistance against the plundering of the tourism monoculture" before arguing that the tourism industry "is incompatible with life". His group is demanding rapid "tourism regrowth." On the same day protest will also take place in other parts of Spain, including Ibiza, San Sebastián, Palma de Mallorca, Granada, the Pyrenees, and in Portugal's capital, Lisbon, Catalan News reported. The only detail of the June 15 protest that has been confirmed so far is the date, its midday start time and starting location of Jardinets de Gràcia. It comes 11 months after protesters in the city stole headlines with a now iconic piece of campaigning. People marched down the streets and remonstrated with diners sitting outside restaurants. Some, judged to be on holiday, were blasted with water pistols. Guests were also prevented from leaving their hotels when campaigners taped up exits. Last July thousands of people took part in the day long rally against mass tourism. Clearly it is something people in the city care deeply about. The Catalan capital received more than 12 million tourists in 2023, with numbers expected to grow each year. There have been other cases of tourist squirting since the July rally. In April this year tourists aboard a sight-seeing bus in Barcelona were blocked and squirted with water by protesters. The organizers of many of the anti-tourism protests held in 2024 in Mallorca launched a protest in the Northern Spanish city. The Catalan Police were called when the campaigners blocked a bus packed with tourists close to the famous Sagrada Familia. Members of Més turisme, Menys vida (More Tourism, Less Life) launched the action after holding an international press conference. After stopping the bus in its tracks for several minutes, the protesters doused it with water pistols. According to OK Diario, police dispersed some of the activists and detained others. This tourism-phobic group from Mallorca carried out several pressure actions against tourists last year, both in Palma and on iconic beaches like Caló des Moro, as well as two demonstrations with thousands of people protesting against tourism in the streets of the Balearic capital.
CNN
15-05-2025
- Sport
- CNN
At least 13 people injured as car drives into crowd outside FC Barcelona-Espanyol match. Police say it's ‘accidental'
At least 13 people were injured when a car drove into a crowd outside a stadium in Spain hosting a soccer match between major crosstown rivals FC Barcelona and Espanyol, according to local authorities. Catalan Police described the incident as an 'accidental collision' to CNN on Thursday. 'The situation is under control and in no case poses a risk to the people inside the sports facility,' the police said in a separate statement on social media. Catalonia's emergency services said 13 people were being treated for injuries in a post on X. 'The injured people are being treated by emergency services and the driver of the vehicle has been arrested,' Catalan Police wrote in a follow-up post shortly after. 'There is a large police presence in the area.' Video from social media geolocated by CNN appears to show a white car driving through a crowd of people in a park next to the facility. The emergency services said in a post on X that nine of the people had 'minor injuries' while the other four were in 'less than serious' conditions. FC Barcelona eventually won the match 2-0, becoming La Liga's champions for the 2024-25 season. The game was punctuated with a red card for Espanyol defender Leondro Cabrera, who elbowed 17-year-old Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal within the last minutes of the match. In one last moment of chaos, the stadium sprinklers were turned on as Barcelona players celebrated their title. The intense rivalry between Barcelona and Espanyol stretches back nearly a century, often intersecting with Spanish politics. FC Barcelona is the preferred team for Catalan nationalists, with Espanyol often supported by those loyal to the Spanish state. CNN's Angels Font and Avery Schmitz contributed reporting.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- The Sun
Horrifying moment car ploughs into huge crowd of fans near stadium ahead of Espanyol vs Barcelona derby clash
THIS is the terrifying moment a car ploughs into huge crowds of Espanyol-Barcelona fans ahead of the derby clash. The horror incident unfolded near the RCDE Stadium before the game began. 3 3 3 Unbelievable footage shows the white vehicle facing the crowds as drinks are being thrown at it. The car then picks up speed and ploughs into fans, with some seen hanging onto the windscreen. Armed police are seen chasing after the vehicle as it disappears into the sea of people. The vehicle ploughed into a group of Espanyol fans who were waiting for the bus to arrive at the stadium an hour and a half before kick-off. Several fans were injured and required urgent treatment, with ambulances dispatched to the horror scene. Witnesses have spoken of the shocking ordeal, saying how there was a lot of confusion in the first few minutes after the incident. According to local reports, the Catalan police have initially said a female driver lost control of her car. There have been thirteen minor injuries, according to cops and Espanyol, Mundo Deportivo reports. The Catalan police have also insisted that the plough was accidental, the news site added. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
News18
01-05-2025
- News18
Heroic Chinese Photographer Pins Down Thief In Barcelona, Recovers Stolen Camera
Last Updated: The photographer was not physically harmed and was also able to retrieve his camera and other photographic equipment. A Chinese photographer has gone viral for his heroic act to save his equipment. The incident reportedly unfolded at the Avenida de la Catedral in Barcelona's Ciutat Vella district, Spain, earlier this week. The photographer was filming a newlywed Asian couple in the streets of the historic landmark. When they were busy with the shoot, three strangers suddenly turned up and tried to steal the professional camera. The assailants managed to snatch the device, but the photographer reacted promptly. He caught one of the thieves and pinned him to the ground while the other two quickly fled off the scene. Witnesses immediately called the Catalan Police to inform them of the robbery. By the time officers of the Regional Motorcycle Group (GRM) arrived at the spot, the culprit had almost been choked by the photographer. The detainee was identified as a 27-year-old man of North African origin, who had nine criminal records, reported. The police have already started an investigation to locate the other two suspects who had disappeared. The photographer was not physically harmed. He was also able to retrieve his camera and other photographic equipment. A clip of his brave actions was dropped on X (formerly Twitter) by a Chinese journalist, and it impressed many social media buffs. The video showed the thief, visibly shocked, struggling to breathe while lying on the footpath. After the police arrested him, the bystanders burst into applause, appreciating the photographer for his resilience. A Chinese photographer's camera was stolen in Spain. The thief picked the wrong guy… He was choked until the police arrived. The citizens burst into applause.I used to be nervous about being stolen when I studied in France. After backing home, no worries. China is very safe. — Li Zexin (@XH_Lee23) April 30, 2025 An X user quipped that the thief appeared to be 'relieved after the police took him away". 'Bro was so happy to see the police for a split second," added another. A humorous comment read, 'Plot twist: He said 'call the cops,' but forgot he was the consequence. One user felt the photographer might be 'specialised in jiu-jitsu". 'The hand could be steadier on the bicep, but the rear-naked choke worked out," suggested an individual. 'Lesson learned: don't mess with the wrong person!" wrote a user. 'I remember when a Russian tourist broke the arm of a thief who tried to pickpocket him, and a Spanish court forced the tourist to pay 7000 euros to the thief because he lost his ability to work," shared a person. The video has garnered over 7 million views on the X platform. First Published:
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Police intervene as protesters target tourists with new tactic in Spanish hotspot
Tourist aboard a sight-seeing bus in Barcelona were blocked and squirted with water by protesters. The organizers of many of the anti-tourism protests held in 2024 in Mallorca launched a protest in the Northern Spanish city on Sunday. The Catalan Police were called when the campaigners blocked a bus packed with tourists close to the famous Sagrada Familia. Members of Més turisme, Menys vida (More Tourism, Less Life) launched the action after holding an international press conference. After stopping the bus in its tracks for several minutes, the protesters doused it with water pistols. According to OK Diario, police dispersed some of the activists and detained others. This tourism-phobic group from Mallorca carried out several pressure actions against tourists last year, both in Palma and on iconic beaches like Caló des Moro, as well as two demonstrations with thousands of people protesting against tourism in the streets of the Balearic capital. Fed up locals in holiday hotspots across Spain, Italy, France and Portugal have refused to rule out targeting terminal buildings to deter holidaymakers this summer. They say mass tourism has fuelled soaring rents and a lack of affordable homes - as accommodation is snapped up for tourist lets and land bought for building resorts. The alert comes as millions of us are planning sunshine getaways. At the Més turisme, Menys vida summit, protestor Elena Boschi yesterday told the Mirror: 'We want tourists to have some level of fear about the situation – without fear there is no change.' The English language teacher, 46, a campaigner from Genoa, on the Italian riviera, continued: 'Our cities and regions are not for sale and there is an urgent need to limit the growth of tourism, demand a change of course and decide on a path to tourism de-growth as a way out.' When questioned by our reporter about demonstrations at airports, which have been mooted by activists, leader Daniel Pardo added: 'It is a possibility – but, it is difficult to say because each territory will decide how they want to take action, there is no one set strategy.' Issues relating to tourism have been felt particularly keenly by those living on the Canary Islands. In 2024, the Canary Islands saw a record 17.9 million visitors, a combination of international and domestic tourists. This included 15.5 million international tourists, a 10% increase from the previous year, and around 1.8 million domestic tourists from mainland Spain. This year activists - who argue that house prices are too high, roads too busy and the way of life being eroded by mass-tourism - have pledged to target popular tourist hotspots, disrupt public events and "confront political leaders". A fresh campaign is set to commence from May 18. "From now on, we will take our fight to the very spaces where their predatory model is perpetuated," declared activist group Canarias tiene un límite (The Canaries Have a Limit)."
