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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Catalonia Referendum Sparks Chaos: Hundreds Injured in Police Clashes

Courtesy of Mish.

The heavy-handed tactics of prime minister Mariano Rajoy turned to chaos and clashes as police moved to block the Catalonia independence vote. European politicians are shocked.

Riot Police Attack Voters in Girona, Hundreds Injured Nationwide

That image does not convey the brutality accurately. Please play the video.

UK Labour Leader Cites Shocking Police Violence in Tweet

It’s high time for de-escalation. Only a negotiated solution is the way forward. Read my full statement on the #CatalanReferendum here pic.twitter.com/v1OMgFJFIj

— Guy Verhofstadt (@GuyVerhofstadt) October 1, 2017

Barcelona Mayor Calls on Rajoy to Resign

The Guardian reports Hundreds injured as riot police storm Catalan referendum polling stations.

The mayor of Barcelona said 460 people had been injured after Spanish police in riot gear stormed polling stations to prevent Catalonia’s independence referendum from going ahead on Sunday.

Although many Catalans managed to cast their ballots in the poll, which the Spanish authorities have declared illegal, others were forcibly stopped from voting as schools housing ballot boxes were raided by the national police.

The large Ramon Llull school in Barcelona was the scene of a sustained operation, with witnesses describing police using axes to smash their way in, charging the crowds and firing rubber bullets.

Similar scenes were reported elsewhere. Riot police smashed the glass doors of the sports centre near Girona where Puigdemont had been due to vote. Despite forcing their way in, they failed to stop the Catalan president voting. Pictures showed him casting his ballot in nearby Cornella del Terri.

The Catalan health ministry said 216 people were hurt in Barcelona, 80 in Girona, 64 in Lleida, 53 in Terres de l’Ebre, 27 in Catalunya central and 25 in Tarragona. The two most seriously injured were in hospitals in Barcelona.

The Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, told crowds the “police brutality will shame the Spanish state for ever”, while the mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, demanded an end to the police actions and called for the resignation of the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy.

Guardian Live Report

The Guardian Live reports.


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