THE mayor of riot-stricken Barcelona has called for calm after violent protests by Catalan independence supporters rocked Spain’s second largest city once again.

Mayor Ada Colau said that “this cannot continue. Barcelona does not deserve it”. Colau said Friday’s violence was worse than that of the four preceding nights.

Protesters have been angered by Monday’s Spanish supreme court verdict that sentenced nine separatist leaders to prison. Scenes of violence erupted after more than a half million protesters, including families with children, marched in the Catalan capital, according to local police.

Pro-independence activists have clashed with police each night in Barcelona and other Catalan cities following large peaceful protests. Authorities said more than 400 people have been hurt, roughly half of them police officers, while police have made around 150 arrests. Outnumbered police used tear gas and a water cannon on Friday night to battle rioters in Barcelona, a major tourist destination.