This is the astonishing moment a pianist calmly plays ‘Eternal Flame’ as anti-lockdown rioters start fires and clash with police in Barcelona.
The video was uploaded by a busker on Instagram over the weekend following Saturday night’s furious demonstrations against new lockdown rules in the Catalan city.
The violence erupted after prime minister Pedro Sánchez declared a state of emergency and imposed a nationwide curfew between 11pm and 6am on October 25, with people only allowed to leave their homes for essential journeys.
In the pianist’s footage, explosions go off and youths are seen hurling rocks at police vans while he plays the 1988 Bangles hit with the famous lyric: ‘Is this burning an eternal flame?’
A fire burns behind the man as he plays the 1988 Bangles hit ‘Eternal Flame’ during riots in Barcelona
An explosion cracks, police sirens wail and youths sprint through the streets but the pianist is unfazed
Small fires were started on the streets of Barcelona during clashes with police on Saturday night
A rioter faces off with armoured police during a second night of disturbances in Spain’s second-largest city on Saturday
Some demonstrators hurled barricades at police as they gathered outside the headquarters of the regional and local government in Barcelona on Friday
On Saturday, demonstrators took to the streets for a second night of protests against the new lockdown, setting fires and pelting officers with projectiles.
Separate footage showed police cars and motorbikes chasing after young men in the streets as what sounds like gunshots are heard in the background – though it is unclear where the shots are coming from.
In the footage, a large group of people can be seen running towards a police car on a near-empty street and pelting it with various objects – including a set of metal railings – as it attempts to drive away.
Two police officers can also be seen nearby on bikes, one of whom is pushed off the bike by a rioter before being attacked and pushed to the ground.
A woman recording the video from a building above can be heard screaming ‘Oh my God’ as she watches the terrifying events unfold.
Further police assistance soon arrives at the scene and the rioters can be seen fleeing, with one of them managing to push another officer off of their bike as they run away.
Earlier, around 1,500 hotel and restaurant workers took part in a peaceful march against the restrictions which threaten their livelihoods.
All bars and restaurants have been closed in the Spanish region of Catalonia, which includes Barcelona, until November 13.
A day before, about 50 demonstrators attacked police with stones in Barcelona, set rubbish containers on fire and looted shops. Fourteen people were arrested and 30 injured.
Up to a thousand people had been attending an unauthorised anti-lockdown demonstration on Friday before they started pushing against police cordons.
A protester holds a brick aloft during a rally in Barcelona on Friday night against new regional measures to curb the spread of coronavirus
Riot police wielding batons attempt to disperse the demonstrators on Friday night
A demonstrator throws a rock at a police van in central Barcelona on Friday after a protest against new coronavirus restrictions descended into violence
Many of those taking part work in sectors badly affected by the pandemic, including restaurants, the arts and gyms.
They started throwing flares and bricks at officers who then moved in to disperse the rioters in the city centre.
Police also hit protesters with batons and reportedly used foam bullets against those assembled outside the regional and local government headquarters.
Dozens of protesters then separated into groups to narrow streets in Barcelona’s gothic quarter, setting trash containers on fire to serve as barricades.
Catalonia’s regional interior minister, Miquel Samper said declaring a curfew across Spain was unavoidable after some groups ignored calls to keep personal contacts and opportunities for exposure to a minimum.
Spanish officials cited the Spanish youth custom of gathering on park benches to drink cheap liquor mixed with soft drinks – a practice called ‘botellon,’ Spanish for ‘big bottle’ – as a potential source of infections when Spain first emerged from its strict spring home confinement.
Some protesters set bins alight in the Barcelona’s streets as police attempted to disperse the crowd on Friday night
Protesters face off against police in central Barcelona on Friday night over new coronavirus measures including a curfew and the closure of the hospitality sector
Some of the outdoor get-togethers can reach the level of a ‘macrobotellon’ – mega-big bottle – and attract hundreds of participants.
With face masks off and social distance reduced to inches, the revellers are easy targets for the virus.
‘The prohibiting of night-time movement has one goal,’ Samper said. ‘For weeks, we have said that no one should go out at night, or meet with several people, or consume alcohol at these parties called ‘botellon.’ But it is obvious from images we have all seen that we have not been successful.’