Spanish Miners on Strike

Around 8,000 mineworkers from over 40 coal mines in northern Spain are staging a nationwide strike organised by unions bitterly opposed to reductions in coal subsidies from €300 million to €110 million.

Striking Spanish coal miners set up burning barricades and fought running battles with riot police as they protest harsh austerity cuts to coal subsidies.

In violent scenes, the masked protesters lit barricades of burning tyres and launched home-made rockets at groups of police bringing traffic to a halt along key roads in the north of the country.

Riot police retaliated with tear gas grenades and baton charges as they desperately tried to bring the situation under control.