Tourist protests turn violent in Spain as armed police clash with anti-British demonstrators

Tourist protests descended into violence in Spain last night, with armed police clashing with anti-British protesters.

More than 25,000 protesters took to the streets of Majorca, arguing the island cannot "cope" with more holidaymakers.

Police officers struck those in the crowd with batons, while angry protesters were seen leaping over barriers, forcing police to hit them back in response.

Authorities used rubber bullets to disperse the crowd after rioters threw bottles at police.

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Seven people were injured in the chaos, two seriously.

One protester sustained a large gash in his head as a result of the clashes, pictures from the scene revealed.

Demonstrators were pictured holding signs which read "tourists go home", "save Majorca", and "less tourism, more life".

Grassroots campaign group Menys Turisme, Mes Vida, which translates to Less Tourism, More Life, organised the protest - the first in a series of planned demonstrations ahead of the total solar eclipse on August 12.

The group has now published a "Manual for Action Against Touristification" - a guide which tells supporters how to identify possible targets of "non-violent direct action" against a "system that is suffocating us".

Tourism signage, estate agents and hotels are all named as potential places to act against.

Protesters are told to block key-holder boxes for holiday rentals, plan out escape routes, and to cover up distinguishable features, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

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Tourism bodies in the Balearics have condemned the guide.

The Majorca Hoteliers Foundation, the College of Estate Agents and the Confederation of Balearic Business Associations (CAEB) have all hit out against the document.

The hotel federation said: "There are many ways to defend an idea, but not all ways of doing so are valid."

Jose Miguel Artieda Mean, the president of the College of Estate Agents, said: "This does not contribute to public debate; it fuels a climate of confrontation that benefits no one."

The manual follows the targeting of international estate agents in Majorca with graffiti.

Two agencies were tagged with messages which included "guilty", "speculators out", and "get lost".

It marks the third year of summer protests against tourism led by Menys Turisme, Mes Vida.

The organisation previously told GB News British holidaymakers should "expect a hostile atmosphere" this summer and claimed tourism "destroys everything that existed before it".

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