Catalan unionist activists have organised themselves into "brigades" which go out at the dead of night, dressed up in white laboratory suits to hide their identity, to remove symbols of the region's separatist movement.

The putting up and removal of yellow ribbons, which symbolise support for nine jailed separatist Catalan leaders, has been a particularly conflictive issue recently.

There have been several clashes between pro-independence and unionist Catalans over these symbols.

The so-called "cleaning brigades" say they seek to avoid such confrontation by going out in the middle of the night to remove them and thus "de-politicising" public spaces.

The first anniversary of a divisive and outlawed referendum on independence, held on October 1st, 2017, has seen tensions in Catalonia increase again.

These activists were filmed in Canet de Mar, on September 11th, 2018.

Catalan unionist activists have organised themselves into "brigades" which go out at the dead of night, dressed up in white laboratory suits to hide their identity, to remove symbols of the region's separatist movement. The putting up and removal of yellow ribbons, which symbolise support for nine jailed separatist Catalan leaders, has been a particularly conflictive issue recently. There have been several clashes between pro-independence and unionist Catalans over these symbols. The so-called "cleaning brigades" say they seek to avoid such confrontation by going out in the middle of the night to remove them and thus "de-politicising" public spaces. The first anniversary of a divisive and outlawed referendum on independence, held on October 1st, 2017, has seen tensions in Catalonia increase again. These activists were in Canet de Mar, on September 11th, 2018.