Spanish riot police attacked members of the public as they made their way to vote in today's independence referendum, with 465 reported injured so far. Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has called it “police brutality.” These are unprecedented events, unheard of since the end of Franco's regime when democracy was reinstated in Catalonia. As citizens began to head to the polls on this rainy Sunday morning, the heavy paramilitary police presence made the Spanish government's intentions clear. Police officers have been raiding buildings, closing off polling stations, and confiscating ballot boxes among other referendum materials., but still people are determined to vote. Here, in this special edition of Catalan News, we cover all the latest developments in Catalonia for what promises to be a long and arduous day.
Catalonia won "the right to statehood," said Catalan president Carles Puigdemont. This, after a dramatic day in Catalonia, in which Spanish riot officers injured almost 800 people. Citizens massively turned up at the polling stations to vote, despite the repression. Tonight, the government confirmed it will bring the vote results to parliament, for a potential declaration of independence. Trade unions and pro-independence parties have also called a general strike for Tuesday to protest against Spain's crackdown of the referendum.