Posted April 29, 2018 09:46:19

Tens of thousands of people waving homemade signs and wearing red gloves have marched in northern Spain for a third consecutive day to protest the acquittal of five men on gang rape charges.

Local police in Pamplona estimated the size of the crowd at Saturday's march was 35,000.

An 18-year-old woman was attacked by five men during the city's famed San Fermin bull-running festival in 2016.

The men, who named their WhatsApp group "The Pack," were convicted on Thursday on a lesser felony of sexual abuse and sentenced to nine years each in prison instead of the 20 years requested by the state prosecutor.

Under Spanish law, the lesser charge of sexual abuse differs from rape in that it does not involve violence or intimidation.

Lawyers said the victim would appeal the decision, which has prompted thousands of women to share their experiences of abuse on Twitter under the hashtag #cuentalo, Spanish for "tell it".

The Spanish Government has announced plans to convene discussions on possible legal reforms.

Photo: The case had already sparked widespread anger around Spain following concern over increased reports of sex attacks at the annual festival. (AP: Alvaro Barrientos)

The incident took place in the lobby of a building in the early hours of the morning at the San Fermin festival, which brings more than 1 million people to Pamplona for the nine-day festival in July.

The men recorded video of the attack on their mobile phones and laughed about the incident afterwards on their WhatsApp group.

One of the men stole the woman's mobile phone following the attack, leaving her with no means of contacting the friend with whom she had come to the festival.

She was found crying on a bench by a couple who rang the police when she said she had been sexually assaulted.

She made a statement to the police, describing the five men who were later arrested.

Photo: A picture of the accused is seen on screen in the courtroom. (Reuters: Vincent West)

Fragments of video from the men's mobile phones taken at the scene were used as evidence in the trial, alongside witness accounts and biological tests.

The defence team argued the incident was a case of consensual group sex.

The charge of sexual abuse is used in cases of sexual activity between underage partners or those seen not capable of giving permission for sexual contact, such as those who are severely handicapped or under the influence of drugs or drink.

AP/Reuters

Topics: sexual-offences, spain