Third night of violence in Barcelona after jailing of Catalan separatists

Protesters set cars alight and attack police after sentencing of nine pro-independence leaders

Street violence escalated in Barcelona late on Wednesday, as protesters set cars on fire and threw acid at police officers in a third night of unrest following the imprisonment this week of nine pro-independence leaders for their roles in the failed 2017 push for regional independence.

Officers from the Catalan force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, were reported to have fired teargas and run over two protesters during clashes that quickly spread after a earlier demonstration turned into a series of running battles with police.