A driver collided with a group of antifascist activists during a Wednesday morning demonstration in Barcelona, where crowds gathered to mark International Women’s Day. The confrontation occurred as demonstrators attempted to bypass a curfew by crossing a street blockade, and several activists climbed onto the car involved in the incident. One of the protesters was left with minor injuries, reported by Mossos d’Esquadra and the Barcelona City Council.
Eyewitness accounts from the authorities indicate that the clash unfolded on Avenida Diagonal, near the intersection with Albert Bastardas street, around eight o’clock in the morning. Dozens of people had gathered to block the thoroughfare as part of the 8M activities, effectively bringing traffic to a standstill and drawing a large number of onlookers and participants to the scene.
The driver, continuing along Avenida Diagonal, approached the blocked area and, at the moment the line of protesters formed a crossing point, two activists mounted the hood of the vehicle while a third clung to its side. Despite the escalating tension, the driver did not halt the march; instead, the vehicle moved forward a short distance while protesters climbed onto it. The response from the crowd grew more heated as some participants shouted admonitions and directed verbal hostility at the driver.
The incident intensified when other protesters intervened, striking the car and voicing their discontent. The atmosphere remained tense, with onlookers watching closely as events continued to unfold at the intersection of disrupted traffic and political demonstration.
Officials from the Mossos d’Esquadra stated that the officers present at the scene identified the driver and indicated that a formal police report would be issued. The case will be referred to the competent court to determine the appropriate legal actions based on the circumstances of the event. The public safety response aimed to restore order and manage the evolving situation while ensuring the safety of all participants and bystanders.
Since the early hours of the morning, parts of Avenida Diagonal and Meridiana have seen road closures as protesters maintained blockades at key entry points into Barcelona. The disruptions have contributed to significant travel delays for residents and visitors entering the Catalan capital, underscoring the broad impact such demonstrations can have on daily life and local transportation networks.