The Huffington Post
BARCELONA, Spain — In an odd turn of events, firefighters were the ones starting the fires at the latestausterity protest in Spain.
Spanish firefighters clashed with riot policein Barcelona Wednesday as they protested against spending cuts in Catalonia, the economically powerful northeastern region of the country. Hundreds of public employees, sporting yellow helmets and red jackets, gathered in front of Catalonia’s parliament building. Some ignited flares, threw smoke bombs and burned makeshift coffins labeled “public services.”
Labor unions that represent the firefighters warned in a statement that the proposed reductions in staff and spending put the “safety of workers and the people of Catalonia” at risk, according to Agence France-Presse.
Full story: Firefighters Clash With Riot Police In Spain During Austerity Protest