More evidence of provocations, repression of Barcelona protests http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/jun2011/barc-j20.shtml

Amateur videos posted on YouTube show at least 10 police infiltrators in the demonstration, one with an illegal extended baton. They were identified by the protesters and surrounded until the police came to their rescue and escorted them behind the security lines.Another video shows one of these agent provocateurs throwing stones at a police van.Photographs posted on line show a provocateur speaking with a policeman in one frame and, in the next, throwing objects at a police van.Infiltrating demonstrations in order to either provoke or instigate violence is a long-established method of legitimizing violent intervention by the police in otherwise peaceful demonstrations and bringing in repressive legislation.

The methods used by the Mossos d’esquadre, the regional Catalán police, bring to mind the stated mission of the Francoite police, Los grises (the greys): “Permanent and total vigilance, and repression when necessary.”Of the 600 police, a ratio of one to every five protesters, many had their faces covered with balaclavas and identification numbers concealed. The police are obliged by a law passed by the previous regional government in 2008 to have their identification on display.