Unionist protesters gave Nazi salutes during an anti-Catalan rally outside national police in Barcelona on Sunday.
Protesters rallied in counter-protest of the pro-independence demonstrations that have erupted on the streets of Barcelona since October 1st. The referendum was deemed ‘illegal’ and ‘unconstitutional’ by the Spanish government, who sent thousands of police officers to shut down polling stations leading to clashes. Hundreds of injuries were reported by Catalan authorities over the course of the referendum.
The use of the fascist salute is illegal in some countries including Germany, Austria and Slovakia. It is not considered a criminal offence in Spain and has ties to the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, an ally of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy.