Spain's National Court is to question two senior officers from Catalonia's regional police force and the leaders of two pro-Catalan independence civic groups who have been placed under investigation for sedition.
The court said that the four will be quizzed on Friday about their roles in demonstrations in Barcelona on September 21 and 22 when Spanish police arrested several Catalan government officials and raided offices in a crackdown on preparations for last weekend's referendum on Catalonia's independence.
READ MORE: This is why Catalan voters shouted 'thank you Scotland!' outside a polling station
Spanish authorities said the demonstrations hindered the police operation. During the rallies, there were some disturbances and two police vehicles were wrecked.
The four include regional police chief officer Josep Lluis Trapero and Jordi Sanchez, the head of the Catalan National Assembly, which has been the main civic group behind the independence movement.
Sunday was marred by scene of brutal police violence as Spain tried to crack down on Catalonia's attempt to hold a peaceful vote. Despite this, two million Catalans, 90% of those who turned out, voted Yes.
President Carles Puigdemont said last night that Catalonia will declare independence from Spain in a matter of days, .
In his first interview since Sunday’s referendum, Puigdemont told the BBC that his government would “act at the end of this week or the beginning of next”.
When asked what he would do if Madrid was to intervene and take control of Catalonia’s government, Puigdemont said it would be “an error which changes everything”.
Puigdemont spoke after an extra-ordinary television address by Spain’s king, Felipe VI, who claimed the Catalan authorities had deliberately bent the law with their “irresponsible conduct”.
The king complained the independence referendum was “undemocratic” and said that “the state needs to ensure constitutional order and the rule of law in Catalonia.”
Felipe spoke out after tens of thousands of people joined in marches across the city of Barcelona in protest against the Spanish government’s actions over the independence vote.
The king said that the bid by the authorities in Catalonia “undermined coexistence”. “Today, Catalan society is fractured and confronted,” Felipe said, referring to the political crisis as “very serious moments for our democratic life”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel