Barcelona is experiencing its fourth day of rioting across the city, causing mass disruption for residents and tourists in the region. Holidaymakers have been urged to express caution in the region as unrest heats up. Reports of rubber bullets being fired into crowds have circulated in the media, meanwhile, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued a statement on the website yesterday. Travellers continue to flock to Twitter, expressing concern and inquiring about if they should go ahead with holiday plans.
With reports circulating surrounding the outbreak of fires, large gatherings of protestors and police action, including the firing of rubber bullets, travellers are being advised to express caution in the area.
While most of the protests are deemed to be peaceful, the FCO has warned the mood can change quickly.
Many tourists are now contemplating holiday cancellations in a bid to avoid the unrest, taking to Twitter for answers.
One tourist asked: Is Barcelona safe for tourist right now? #Barcelona #BarcelonaTravel #BarcelonaAirport
A man reached out directly to FCO, asking: “@FCOtravel
– we are supposed to be going to Barcelona on Sunday, is it safe?”
The latest FCO update came yesterday, stating: “There have been large gatherings of people in Barcelona and other areas of the Catalonia region in relation to political developments there.
“Further gatherings and demonstrations are likely to take place. You should exercise caution in the vicinity of demonstrations as they may occur with little or no warning.
“Demonstrations intended to be peaceful can escalate and turn confrontational.”
Despite this, there is still a feeling of concern amongst travellers, with Twitter users saying they are “worried”, “afraid and scared” and some even opting to cancel their entire trip.
The biggest hit for travellers came on Monday when protestors and police swarmed the airport, causing multiple flight cancellations and delays.
Spain’s airport operator AENA said at least 108 Barcelona flights were cancelled on Monday.
However British Airways, SWISS, KLM and Lufthansa have confirmed no other further flights would be axed.
At the time of reporting the airport is currently experiencing delays for a number of operators including easyJet and Ryanair, however, there is no confirmation that this is tied to protests.
No British routes are cancelled or delayed.
The riots broke out on Monday following the imprisonment of nine Catalan separatist politicians.
The government issued a statement saying: “A minority wants to impose violence on the streets of Catalan cities, especially Barcelona, Tarragona, Girona and Lleida.
“Violent groups of protestors are attacking central government HQs in Tarragona, Girona and Lleida and are causing damage in other parts of Catalonia.
“It’s obvious we’re not dealing with a peaceful citizens’ movement but something which is co-ordinated by groups who use violence in the street to try to wreck cohabitation in Catalonia.
“Faced with this situation the government wants to recognise the work of the state forces of law and order. Some officers have been injured in the disturbances and the government values very positively the coordination and joint work of the Mossos d’Esquadra, National Police and Civil Guard.
“The Spanish government’s objective is and will always be to guarantee security and harmony in Catalonia and it will do so if necessary in accordance with its commitment to robustness, proportionality and unity.”