The Mossos d'Esquadra secure the Gràcia neighborhood due to the eviction of Ca l'Espina.

BarcelonaThe Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) have begun the eviction of the Ca l'Espina blog in Barcelona's Gràcia neighborhood. The four-story building located on Asturias Street has been occupied for five years and had been warning for some time on social media that they were "pending" eviction.

The Catalan police have sealed off the Gràcia neighborhood due to this eviction. Traffic up Gran de Gràcia Street is blocked from Avinguda Diagonal, with dozens of police patrols in the area and a police helicopter hovering overhead.

Since early this morning, around fifty protesters have attempted to prevent the eviction, and later a pro-Palestinian demonstration was added, eventually gathering around 100 people. Around 9:00 a.m., numerous Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) public order units arrived in the area and pushed the protesters away from the building entrance. This passage was carried out without any notable incidents, apart from a struggle and an attempt to hide inside a fruit stand across the street.

Now, inside the building, a few people—police sources are hesitant to say how many—wearing white masks remain. One of them is hanging from the facade of the building. Police are currently going floor by floor in the building, securing the building and assessing its safety. They are also currently checking to see if anyone is chained or in a dangerous situation. After this check, the occupants inside will be evacuated. The building is fortified, with wood, furniture, and other objects placed on its doors to make access difficult. It displays several pro-occupation banners, such as "Georgian Grace will continue to be occupied" and a Palestinian flag.

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