MADRID, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Six people were arrested and 20 others injured after the death of an African street vender sparked violent protests in central Madrid on Thursday night, local police said.
Witnesses said the 35-year-old vender, Mbaye Nsiaye, died of heart failure as he ran away from police cracking down on illegal street sales.
Nsiaye's death provoked anger in the Lavapies neighborhood where hundreds of protesters burned plastic trash bins to block the narrow streets and pelted riot police with stones and bottles.
Police resorted to baton charges and fired rubber bullets to break up the protests. The confrontation lasted until early Friday morning.
Madrid's emergency service said 16 police officers and four civilians were injured.
Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena said in a tweet that he regretted the death, adding that the municipal government would investigate the incident.
