Violent confrontation in Madrid over coronavirus lockdown protests
A 34-year-old was injured in Madrid on Wednesday night and taken to hospital. Protesters are angry at the government's Covid-19 response, while counter-protesters support the lockdown.
Violence broke out on Wednesday evening in Madrid during a protest against the government's coronavirus lockdown measures. One anti-government protester was injured during a scuffle between the protesters and a group of counter-protesters who support the government's measures to save lives during the Covid-19 crisis.
Anti-lockdown protester "punched in the nose"
According to various witnesses a 34-year-old was punched in the face and suffered a bleeding nose and other injuries, He was taken to hospital.
There has been a growing wave of anti-government protests in Madrid over the past few days, with the central government refusing to allow the region to move out of phase zero of lockdown due to problems in the health system and the continuing number of infections. The protests are concentrated around rich areas of the city, where the majority of residents are right-wing voters. Spain's current government is a coalition of left and left-leaning parties led by the socialists under prime minister Pedro Sánchez. The protesters have been encouraged by far-right Vox.
Most experts consider that removing the lockdown measures too quickly will result in a resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic in Madrid, where it is beginning to be brought under control, thanks to strict lockdown measures that have been in place since 14 March.