Catalonia: Spanish security forces attack the referendum participants on independence

In Catalonia, a referendum on independence prohibited by the central authorities of Spain began, AP reports . Voting takes place from 9 in the morning local time (10 in the morning) in areas not closed by Spanish security forces.

From the early morning, reports Reuters, thousands of residents of the region, at the call of the referendum organizers, gathered at the plots to prevent their seizure by the Spanish National Police and the Civil Guard. In a number of sites, the organizers of the referendum managed to steal the urns for voting.

In the morning, the press secretary of the Zeneralitat (Government) of Catalonia Zordi Turul said that the region’s authorities allowed residents to vote in any open area if the security forces closed their own site. Also, to simplify the vote, Zheeneralitat declared valid ballots printed on home printers.

The Civil Guard of Spain patrolled the streets of the Catalan capital of Barcelona from the early morning. After the start of the vote, the security forces began to storm the areas and take the urn from there.

La @policia Retira Urnas Para Hacer Cumplir El Mandato Judicial Y La Lagalidad Ante El Referndum Ilegal. #Estamosporti pic.twitter.com/o45f76yvsa

- Juan Ignacio Zoido (@zoidoji) October 1, 2017

In particular, in Girona the Spanish security forces, breaking the glass wall, broke into the site, where the President of Catalonia Carles Puchdemon had to vote several minutes later. After that, the president voted in another site.

Later there were reports of detention of demonstrators. The Civil Guard drove the equipment. Protesters beat; Rubber bullets were shot at the crowds.

La Poli Surt Disparaant Pic.twitter.com/4ryfwkaq3x

- Jordi Graupera (@jordigraupera) October 1, 2017

At one of the sites in Barcelona, ​​shooting with rubber bullets was opened, after those who wanted to vote, arranged a sedentary demonstration.

Images Violentes: des électeurs Assis Sont Changés Par La Police Près du Bureau de Vote de Ramon Llull. #10CT Pic.twitter.com/t9vdrdd9at

- Robin Prudent (@Robin_prudent) October 1, 2017

Catalonia police, reports El País, does not take part in the dispersal of protesting. The Spanish government criticizes her for "passivity".

President Puchdemon condemned Madrid for violence against referendum participants. Speaking to the public on Sunday, he turned to English to the Prime Minister of Spain: "Shame on you, Mariano Raha!"

The first Minister of Scotland Nikola Styurzhen also criticized Madrid. “Whatever position we take on the issue of independence (Catalonia. - Ed.), We must all condemn what we see and demand that Spain refuse violence, so far no one is still seriously injured. Let people vote peacefully,” she wrote on Twitter.

Shortly before 16:45 (17:45 Moscow time), the mayor of Barcelona Ada Kolau reported on her twitter that 460 people were injured in total from the actions of the security forces.

In turn, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Spain has announced injuries received from demonstrators by nine police officers and two security officials from the Civil Guard. The department also published a video on which the protesters in the city of San Carles de la, the province of Tarragon, throw the guards with stones and, as a result, force them to get into cars and hide.

CONTINYA La Violencia Contra Los Agentes. @guardiacivil se retara exeditivamente bajo una lluvia de piedras lanzadas en grupo #estamosporti pic.twitter.com/wqsl5hmsl1

- Ministerio Interior (@interiorgob) October 1, 2017

The day before it was reported that the Spanish police sealed 1300 out of 2315 Catalan schools , in which it was supposed to open plots for voting. Thousands of security forces were sent to the region. The telecommunications center of Zheeneralitat was also captured by the police.

Meanwhile, 163 schools after the end of the lessons on Friday were occupied by supporters of the referendum. Thus, they prevented the sealing of objects. At the same time, the police stated that by 6 am Sunday, activists should leave the building.

On Friday, Google deleted a program from his chain store, which allowed voters to find out where the existing areas for voting are located.

Part of the circulation of ballots was confiscated by the police.

However, President Puchememon assured that everything is prepared for the referendum and the vote will take place.

On September 6, the Catalonia Parliament appointed a referendum on the independence of the region as of October 1 . Puchdemon almost immediately signed the relevant law. According to this document, in the case of a referendum favorable for separatists, independence will be proclaimed within 48 hours after its completion.

The next day, the Constitutional Court of Spain suspended the law adopted in Barcelona. The Constitution of Spain really does not give the regions the possibility of leaving the country.

However, on September 8, the Catalan parliament adopted the law on independence , designed to fulfill the role of the temporary constitution of the region after its separation from Spain.

On September 20, the Spanish government took control of the finances of Catalonia. Thus, the central authorities stopped the spending of money to prepare a referendum. On the same day, the Spanish Civil Guard conducted searches in the premises of Zheeneralitat, according to the results of which 12 large regional officials were detained.

Since the beginning of September, mass demonstrations for independence lasted in Catalonia. At the same time in the region and in other places of Spain, the protests were also held by opponents of the Catalonia branch.