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Now ten minutes or more and no cops. There's a major police station two blocks up Via Laietana. Heavily guarded at all times, the guard at the front of the station should have been able to see the fire from where he stood. Still, no cops arrived.

The mob started down Via Laietana leaving the fire raging behind them. We pulled out the video camera. Sounds of smashing windows followed by cheers became more and more distant. We were out in the middle of the road now - shooting video - and then finally, a row of paddy wagons approached from behind us, sirens wailing, They passed us, then the fire and shortly after returned having not found the mob which by this time had probably dispersed into the alleyways of Barri Gotic.

Again the line of paddy wagons sped off and again they returned empty handed. Eventually, a fire engine arrived and the fire was quickly turned into a plume of rancid smoke. We headed on up Via Laietana which was still pretty much devoid of any traffic. A number of banks line this stretch of road. Most all were covered with graffitti and many had broken windows. ATM's were trashed. These were Anarchists. Graffitti read "Llardes" (thieves). Slogans condemned the capitalist state and called for a social war. We eventually reached the Internet cafe but it was closed. Perhaps it's run by anarchists.