At least five people were arrested and 15 Police were injured this Thursday night in protests on the eviction of the youth center (Okupado Social Center) of Etxarri in the Bilbao neighborhood of Rekalde. First thing in the morning, Ertzaintza has managed to access the building for an adjacent garage and has evicted four young people who had spent the night there. The four people have been escorted from the premises and have been identified. The Basque Department of Security has reported that they will open a sanctioning file for obstruction, in application of the Citizen Security Law.
Since the early morning, the police device had been reinforced in the area with numerous endowments of the Ertzaintza, while about 200 protesters continue congregated in the vicinity of youth center. The atmosphere remains tense, with shouts of support to the youth center and fireworks.
The five arrested in the altercations have been released and must appear before the judge for the alleged crimes of public disorders and attack against agents of the authority. The incidents began minutes before 9:00 p.m., with the launch of bottles, pyrotechnic artifacts and other objects against police officers, which resulted in a confrontation on public roads. During the disturbances, numerous containers were crossed on the road and some of them were set on fire, causing moments of great tension in the neighborhood.
In response to these incidents, the Security Forces proceeded to arrest five young people after 23.00. In total, 15 Ertzaintza agents were injured with various bruises, although none of gravity, according to the Basque Government Security Department.
