INTERNATIONAL reaction to the events in Catalonia yesterday ranged from horrified shock at the scenes of violence to a call for Spain to be expelled from the European Union.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was one of the first government leaders to react, tweeting yesterday morning: “Increasingly concerned by images from #Catalonia. Regardless of views on independence, we should all condemn the scenes being witnessed and call on Spain to change course before someone is seriously hurt. Let people vote peacefully.”

The UK Government’s official response was issued by the Foreign Office: “The referendum is a matter for the Spanish Government and people. We want to see Spanish law and the Spanish constitution respected and the rule of law upheld. Spain is a close ally and a good friend, whose strength and unity matters to us.”

READ MORE: How the Catalan people took to social media to let the world see Spain’s actions

This response brought a withering tweet from Sturgeon: “Statement from @foreignoffice on #Catalonia is shamefully weak. A true friend of Spain would tell them today’s actions wrong and damaging.”

Calls were being made for Spain to be thrown out of the EU based on Article 2 of the EU treaty, which demands respect for human rights and dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and the rights of minorities.

Under Article 7, a state breaching these values can be deprived of certain rights, such as voting rights in the European Council, or even be suspended from the EU.

Jordi Cuixart, head of the Omnium cultural center which promotes Catalan language and culture, referred to Article 7 and asked the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to note the part about “suspension of a member state which uses the military against the population.”

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange tweeted: “Activate Article 7 and suspend Spain from the European Union for its clear violation of Article 2.”

The former Prime Minister of Belgium and the European Parliament’s chief spokesman on Brexit Guy Verhofstadt MEP said: “I don’t want to interfere in the domestic issues of Spain but I absolutely condemn what happened today in Catalonia.

“On one hand, the separatist parties went forward with a so-called referendum that was forbidden by the Constitutional Court, knowing all too well that only a minority would participate as 60 per cent of the Catalans are against separation.

“And on the other hand – even when based on court decisions – the use of disproportionate violence to stop this. In the European Union we try to find solutions through political dialogue and with respect for the constitutional order as enshrined in the Treaties, especially in art. 4.

“It’s high time for de-escalation. Only a negotiated solution in which all political parties, including the opposition in the Catalan Parliament, are involved and with respect for the Constitutional and legal order of the country, is the way forward.”

The current Prime Minister of Belgium Charles Michel was one of the few heads of Government to speak out, saying: “Violence can never be the answer! We condemn all forms of violence and reaffirm our call for political dialogue.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: “Police violence against citizens in #Catalonia is shocking. The Spanish Government must act to end it now. I urge @Theresa_May to appeal directly to Rajoy to end police violence in Catalonia & find political solution to this constitutional crisis.”

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said: “Police violence in Catalonia today is shocking, and the Spanish Government should take action to end it now. While we believe disputes over sovereignty should be resolved in accordance with rules and laws, and any referendum on these issues needs to be both democratic and fair, it is unacceptable for the Spanish authorities to overreact to today’s events through aggressive police action and the forcible closure of polling stations.

“They must respect the right to peaceful protest, and all sides must strive to come together and reach a political solution to this constitutional crisis. Violence of any sort will simply worsen divisions, and make a resolution harder to reach.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said the Spanish ambassador should be summoned by Boris Johnson to hear condemnation of the violence. He said: “Police in a democracy should never drag people violently out of polling stations, whatever the arguments for or against holding a referendum. The police response looks to have been brutal and completely disproportionate.

“The Foreign Secretary should break off from conspiring against the prime minister and call in the Spanish ambassador to tell him that this is unacceptable.”