Central Sees Show Of Support For Catalan Protesters

Thousands of people attended a rally at Chater Garden in Central on Thursday night to express solidarity with people protesting in Catalonia, Spain, over the jailing of nine people involved in a failed push for secession two years ago.

Some of those who turned up said they were there to condemn alleged brutality by Spanish police, but don't support independence for Catalonia.

The rally was held at the same time as a parallel gathering in Barcelona, where Catalans expressed their support for the protests here.

Catalonia was wracked by five days of often violent demonstrations earlier this month, after the independence leaders were given prison terms of from nine to 12 years.

Apparently drawing inspiration from the demonstrations in Hong Kong, radical youngsters have taken to the streets, burning barricades and throwing petrol bombs.