Spanish TV reporter breaks down as she's attacked by angry protesters live on air

A Spanish TV reporter struggled to hold back tears after being attacked live on-air by a group of Catalan independence protesters in Barcelona on Tuesday.

Laila Jiménez from TV network Telecinco was hit in the head with a Red Bull and jostled by the screaming crowd, who were marching to observe the second anniversary of the unauthorised independence referendum on October 1, 2017.

One person offered her paper towels to dry herself off. Jiménez eventually changed locations to continue her report, according to El Pais. The Spanish newspaper said some marchers claimed her presence was a "provocation", while others defended her, news.com.au reports.

The march was attended by around 18,000 people, and local police said no other incidents were reported. Jiménez described the incident as "humiliating", according to Telecinco, which said protesters called her a "Spanish whore" and yelled at her to "get out of Catalonia".

They were observing the second anniversary of the unauthorised independence referendum. Photo / Supplied

Spanish and Catalan politicians condemned the attack. "Doing this with a female worker with a microphone on the street is disgusting," Republican Party of Catalonia spokesman Gabriel Rufián wrote on Twitter.

She was doused with liquid and jostled by the angry crowd. Photo / Supplied

The Committee to Protect Journalists urged local authorities to investigate the incident. "Authorities must quickly and thoroughly investigate the attacks on Telecinco reporter Laila Jiménez and bring those responsible to justice," CPJ's New York-based program director Carlos Martinez de la Serna said in a statement.

Reporter attacked while covering protest. Photo / Supplied

"The harassment of journalists covering protests in Spain is far too common. Authorities must put an end to this trend and ensure that journalists can freely and safely cover demonstrations."

More than two million people, or 92 per cent of a 43 per cent turnout, voted for independence in the controversial referendum, which was passed by the Parliament of Catalonia but declared illegal by the Constitutional Court of Spain.