At least 14 people have been injured, including two journalists and eight policemen, during a demonstration of nearly 10,000 miners in Madrid. Clashes have erupted as workers from all over Spain protested against the budget cuts to the industry.
The clashes started with miners throwing firecrackers at police officers surrounding the Ministry of Industry building. Police had to disperse the violent crowd using batons, reportedly firing rubber bullets as well. Fourteen people have been injured in clashes, most of them police officers, local media reports. Two people have been arrested.Thousands of miners arrived in Madrid on Thursday in some 100 coaches to protest against drastic subsidy cuts to the industry. The organizers put the total number of protesters at 10,000, while the authorities estimate the figure at around 5,000. The march stated at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium and ended outside the Ministry of Industry.In the wake of the incident, the miner unions have called for an indefinite strike until the government revises budget cuts.