Three British tourists have sparked outrage in Barcelona after they were filmed mocking anti-eviction protesters from the balcony of a holiday apartment while singing Justin Bieber’s hit Baby.
The incident unfolded in La Mina, a deprived neighbourhood on the outskirts of the Catalan capital, where police were carrying out the latest phase of a controversial operation to evict squatters from dozens of publicly-owned flats.
Footage filmed from the street shows the three young men standing on the balcony of a tourist apartment overlooking the operation, laughing, chanting and singing Baby as demonstrators gathered below.
The men, who appeared to be drinking bottled beers, exchanged insults with protesters before tensions escalated.
According to local reports, one of the tourists threw a Bluetooth speaker down towards the crowd.
Protesters and bystanders allegedly responded by throwing bottles back towards the building, prompting Mossos d’Esquadra officers to step in and calm the situation.
The confrontation took place during the latest round of evictions from 58 publicly-owned homes in La Mina that have been occupied since 2017.
Authorities say the properties are needed to rehouse families affected by the long-delayed demolition of the nearby Venus housing block.
The flats were originally built for that purpose but were simultaneously occupied after standing empty for years.
The eviction programme, which is expected to continue until at least December, has become highly controversial.
Housing campaigners argue many of those being removed are vulnerable families with nowhere else to live and are demanding social housing rather than eviction.
A court this week even refused to immediately remove one 21-year-old mother who reoccupied her flat hours after being evicted, ruling there was insufficient evidence to justify an urgent second eviction while noting she had no alternative accommodation.
Around 50 residents, squatters and housing activists gathered to protest Thursday’s operation as six Mossos vans and riot police secured the area while officers cleared three more occupied homes.
It was during the demonstration that the British tourists, staying directly opposite the building being cleared, became involved in the confrontation.
The video quickly spread across social media, attracting thousands of comments.
‘Even in La Mina there are tourist flats while hundreds of families are on the street,’ one user wrote.
Another added: ‘Tourists not welcome!’
Others mocked the visitors, with one writing: ‘Let’s see what happens when they come downstairs.’
It is not clear at time of reporting whether police action has been taken.
The Spanish Eye has contacted Mossos for comment.
