22/10/2019 (Agence Europe) – "I am concerned at numerous reports of attacks on journalists covering demonstrations in Catalonia last week", said the Council of Europe (CoE) Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, on Tuesday 22 October. The CoE platform for the safety of journalists recorded 37 such instances. "While some of these attacks were carried out by demonstrators, several accredited journalists, wearing press visibility jackets, have reportedly experienced violent behaviour at the hands of police officers", said Ms Mijatović, calling on Spanish authorities to investigate all reported cases. She also called on the police to "strictly abide by the principles of necessity and proportionality in the use of force, in order to safeguard the rights of those who demonstrate peacefully". Noted, in particular was the improper use of rubber or foam bullets reported in several reports, including one from Amnesty International. (VL)