Fury as historic steps at world heritage site hosting Louis Vuitton fashion show are damaged - as hundreds of Spanish protesters clash with police in ugly scenes outside catwalk event Protestors rage against private event in public park and damage to historic steps By James Reynolds Published: 00:58, 24 May 2024 | Updated: 03:20, 24 May 2024 e-mail 2 View comments Hundreds of protesters clashed with police outside a Louis Vuitton fashion show last night as tensions came to a head after the steps at a world heritage site were damaged in the build-up to the event. Barcelona was the setting for ugly scenes when local anger reached boiling point as the fashion giant was allowed to use an historic public park for celebrities to show off next year's Cruise Collection in private. Pictures of damage to the steps around barriers set up in the historic Park Güell circulated online, before dramatic protests erupted in the city, culminating in the violent clashes last night.
Chaotic scenes showed friction between baton-wielding officers and residents rallying against the French company's use of the park and protesting the damage, according to Spanish media. Matters came to a head when huge crowds wielding banners encircled officers, who were seen shoving residents and beating one man to the ground after he lashed out with a kick. Multiple arrests were reported locally.
Barcelona City Council told Catalan outlet Rac1 that a 'human error' during preparations for the event was to blame fo.