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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
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| Catalan government: '337 injured by Spanish police violence' during referendum - live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.06pm BST | |
| 14:06 | |
| The Guardian’s Sam Jones has spoken to Jesús López Rodríguez, a 51-year-old administrator who lives opposite the Ramon Llull school, who witnessed this morning’s violent police raid on the polling station. | |
| We were in the street from 5am. Hundreds of us were waiting to vote peacefully. The ballot boxes came at about 7.30am. Around eight o’clock, we saw seven national police vans. Half an hour later, the police came in riot gear with shields and helmets. They told us that the Catalan high court had ordered them to take the ballot boxes and they told us that we needed to disperse. We said, ‘No! No! No!’. Then about 20 police officers charged us. It was short – about two minutes – and we stayed together. I heard the chief officer telling them to retreat. But they just stopped and stayed there for about 15 minutes. | |
| Then eight or nine national vans came and they cordoned off the surrounding streets. We were pushing back and forth until they started to arrest people. They dragged people out violently. We stood our ground but they dragged people away, kicking them and throwing them to the ground … Lots more police came - maybe 100 or more. When they saw they couldn’t get into the main building, they jumped over the fence and went in. They came out with ballot boxes 10 minutes later and they broke down the doors [of the school] with axes. They left with the ballot boxes. | |
| There were a lot of police but we stayed there trying to vote. We looked around for other places to vote and then we came back. Half an hour later, we saw lots of police vans on Gran Vía. Then, at about 10.25am, they started to shoot rubber bullets – at least 30 or 40. People were running away, scared and totally defenceless. I ran towards the shots but my wife pulled me back. I was down there for a lot of hours this morning and I didn’t hear one insult [towards the police] … I feel really angry about it but I also hope that people in Europe and around the world see what’s happening in Catalonia. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.10pm BST | |
| 1.52pm BST | |
| 13:52 | |
| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has called on the Spanish government to stop the violence in Catalonia. | |
| Police violence against citizens in #Catalonia is shocking. The Spanish government must act to end it now. | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.53pm BST | |
| 1.49pm BST | |
| 13:49 | |
| Stephen Burgen has spoken to Martí Pont, 19, who was among the occupants of the Escola Ramon Llull school when Spanish police arrived in force. Video footage shows officers dragging voters out by their hair and throwing people down stairs at the school. | |
| “I was there last night and there were a couple of dozen people but when I went back at 5.30am there were maybe 300. The Mossos came, saw how many people there were, and left. A couple of hours later the ballot boxes arrived and we all started applauding. It was raining heavily. Then seven vanloads of Policia Nacional arrived. We all gathered around the front door and kept calm. There were some elderly people but no kids. Then 15 police in body armour and five more wearing balaclavas arrived. They started pushing us with their shields and throwing us aside but there were too many of us. Then more and more vanloads arrived from all sides. | |
| They started pushing through and pulling people out. Then they broke in through another door and took away the ballot boxes and voting papers. Right then people didn’t know what to do because there were police in front and behind. They started dragging us out, often by the throat. Lots of women were dragged out by the hair. Then we saw them put the ballot boxes in a Seat, an ordinary car. We sat down in front of and behind their vans so they couldn’t leave. They took out their truncheons and began separating us. We went down carrer Marina, blocking them street by street. They started hitting us with truncheons but didn’t use their guns. We met up with another group and the police warned journalists to go away. They ran off and the police started firing rubber bullets. This was at the junction of Diputació and Sardenya. Everyone who could, fled, but others got hit, in the back and the knee. Everyone went off to find somewhere else to vote. | |
| Esto es un colegio.Un CEIP en el que se iba a votar.En serio. pic.twitter.com/7zxH8GZz8o | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.57pm BST | |
| 1.41pm BST | |
| 13:41 | |
| 'What's happening is a mini revolution': eyewitness accounts | |
| Sarah Marsh | |
| Readers have been sharing their eyewitness accounts with us –you can share yours with us here. | |
| ‘It is frightening. We are living in a world where human rights are being ignored’ | |
| What is happening at the moment is a mini revolution – the Catalans want a referendum and right now we are waiting for Guardias to arrive as that is what has been happening elsewhere. Old people have been attacked ... We are doing what we want to do which is just vote. | |
| It has not been violent where we are but what we are hearing and seeing [is worrying]. Last night, I was outside the square eating sausages we cooked on the BBQ and talking about what tomorrow means and now we are talking about what Monday means and Tuesday. It is frightening. We are living in a world where human rights are being ignored. I think Catalonia deserves to be listened to. | |
| If the rest of the world does not put its arms up and prevent the Spanish government from attacking peaceful demonstrators, then that is worrying. | |
| I have got children with me at the moment. They know what is going on and they can feel this tension – it’s just not nice. You bring children up to be peaceful and seeing the establishment carry old ladies off. It would be great if everything news-wise shows what is really happenings.Fiona Williamson, 44, from Barcelona | |
| ‘This is history. People say they will not move if there is violence’ | |
| Sitting outside the polling station in Barcelona Nord, we’re here on holiday but it is fascinating to watch all these people voting. They are here to stand and be visible, we’ve talked to some people. Other stations around here are closed so more people are coming here to vote. The local Catalan police are patrolling but there is no aggravation towards them, they are not stopping the process. | |
| Earlier today, I saw seven police vans drive by, the cars beeped their horns in protest. Catalonian flags are hanging in windows, there is graffiti for voting yes. There are no posters for no. I talked to a girl and asked if she knew anyone voting no. She said she knew some people from university, but there was no argument between them. They just wanted to vote. People clap when they leave the station. A man handed his umbrella to another pushing an elderly lady in a wheelchair. The atmosphere is friendly and momentous. People are happy to talk and share with us. This is history. They say they will not move if there is violence. It’s too important.Caitríona O’Brien and Malachy McDermott, Irish holidaymakers in Barcelona | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.48pm BST | |
| 1.40pm BST | |
| 13:40 | |
| 337 people injured in referendum disorder | |
| The Catalan government has said 337 people have been injured “by the Spanish state police violence.” They have accused Spanish police of responding with a ‘go get them’ attitude. | |
| The Catalan foreign minister Raül Romeva has said: “We have initiated contacts with the EU about the violation of fundamental rights that puts the very same EU at risk. | |
| “We urge Europe’s institutions to condemn the violence that European citizens are suffering” | |
| Spokesman @jorditurull: "337 people have been injured by the Spanish state police violence. We ask them to file a complaint with @mossos" | |
| Spokesman @jorditurull: "The police interference responds to the 'Go get them' attitude. The person responsible is @marianorajoy" | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.41pm BST | |
| 1.30pm BST | 1.30pm BST |
| 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, the Spanish deputy prime minister, said in a press conference that the “absolute irresponsibility of the Catalan government has had to be dealt with by the professionalism of the state’s security forces. With firmness and and proportionality we have thrown into disarray the Generalitat’s plans. There hasn’t been a referendum nor the semblance of one. Nothing good will come of this.” | Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, the Spanish deputy prime minister, said in a press conference that the “absolute irresponsibility of the Catalan government has had to be dealt with by the professionalism of the state’s security forces. With firmness and and proportionality we have thrown into disarray the Generalitat’s plans. There hasn’t been a referendum nor the semblance of one. Nothing good will come of this.” |
| 1.28pm BST | 1.28pm BST |
| 13:28 | 13:28 |
| Belgium PM condemns referendum violence | Belgium PM condemns referendum violence |
| Belgium prime minister Charles Michel has spoken out against the violence and called for political dialogue. | |
| He is the first world leader to do so. | He is the first world leader to do so. |
| Violence can never be the answer! We condemn all forms of violence and reaffirm our call for political dialogue #CatalanReferendum #Spain | Violence can never be the answer! We condemn all forms of violence and reaffirm our call for political dialogue #CatalanReferendum #Spain |
| Updated | |
| at 1.40pm BST | |
| 1.18pm BST | 1.18pm BST |
| 13:18 | 13:18 |
| Catalonia’s ombudsman has said he will complain about the Spanish government’s tactics to European authorities including the European council, according to AP. | Catalonia’s ombudsman has said he will complain about the Spanish government’s tactics to European authorities including the European council, according to AP. |
| Rafael Ribo said on Sunday the government forces had used disproportionate tactics in “violent actions against citizens” while trying to shut down the disputed independence referendum. | Rafael Ribo said on Sunday the government forces had used disproportionate tactics in “violent actions against citizens” while trying to shut down the disputed independence referendum. |
| Ribo, an appointee by the regional parliament who leads the office overseeing citizens’ rights, said in an emotional appearance before reporters that the Spanish government has shown “little respect for human rights”. | Ribo, an appointee by the regional parliament who leads the office overseeing citizens’ rights, said in an emotional appearance before reporters that the Spanish government has shown “little respect for human rights”. |
| He called on the government to stop all violent actions against citizens. | He called on the government to stop all violent actions against citizens. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.23pm BST | at 1.23pm BST |
| 1.12pm BST | 1.12pm BST |
| 13:12 | 13:12 |
| Former Catalan president Artur Mas has told Spanish TV that the prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, should “resign immediately” from his position. He said Rajoy is in charge of a “violent state”, calling the Spanish leader “authoritarian” and “a represser”. | Former Catalan president Artur Mas has told Spanish TV that the prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, should “resign immediately” from his position. He said Rajoy is in charge of a “violent state”, calling the Spanish leader “authoritarian” and “a represser”. |
| On police violence, Mas said: “We cannot be in a common state project which uses batons and police brutality.” | On police violence, Mas said: “We cannot be in a common state project which uses batons and police brutality.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.19pm BST | at 1.19pm BST |
| 1.02pm BST | 1.02pm BST |
| 13:02 | 13:02 |
| The Spanish interior ministry has tweeted a video of Guardia Civil officers running from protesters throwing rocks. | The Spanish interior ministry has tweeted a video of Guardia Civil officers running from protesters throwing rocks. |
| Continúa la violencia contra los agentes. @guardiacivil se retira expeditivamente bajo una lluvia de piedras lanzadas en grupo#EstamosporTI pic.twitter.com/wQsL5hMsL1 | Continúa la violencia contra los agentes. @guardiacivil se retira expeditivamente bajo una lluvia de piedras lanzadas en grupo#EstamosporTI pic.twitter.com/wQsL5hMsL1 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.04pm BST | at 1.04pm BST |
| 12.58pm BST | 12.58pm BST |
| 12:58 | 12:58 |
| The Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias, has spoken out against the violence again. | The Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias, has spoken out against the violence again. |
| If something breaks Spain it will be because the PP [People’s party] and those who support it in Congress continue to destroy democracy. | If something breaks Spain it will be because the PP [People’s party] and those who support it in Congress continue to destroy democracy. |
| Si algo rompe España es que el PP y los que le sostienen en el Congreso sigan destrozando la democracia #Rajoydimision #Noenminombre pic.twitter.com/LGZuzj7Ngn | Si algo rompe España es que el PP y los que le sostienen en el Congreso sigan destrozando la democracia #Rajoydimision #Noenminombre pic.twitter.com/LGZuzj7Ngn |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.13pm BST | at 1.13pm BST |
| 12.49pm BST | 12.49pm BST |
| 12:49 | 12:49 |
| The Spanish interior ministry has said nine police officers and two Guardia Civil officers have been injured while trying to stop the referendum. They also posted a video of “hooded” figures throwing objects at police in central Barcelona. | The Spanish interior ministry has said nine police officers and two Guardia Civil officers have been injured while trying to stop the referendum. They also posted a video of “hooded” figures throwing objects at police in central Barcelona. |
| Encapuchados lanzan objetos a la @policia en Barcelona. Los agentes se retiran tras haber cumplido la orden judicial#EstamosporTI pic.twitter.com/7iswuhRNpS | Encapuchados lanzan objetos a la @policia en Barcelona. Los agentes se retiran tras haber cumplido la orden judicial#EstamosporTI pic.twitter.com/7iswuhRNpS |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.54pm BST | at 12.54pm BST |
| 12.43pm BST | 12.43pm BST |
| 12:43 | 12:43 |
| More video footage of police brutality against voters in Barcelona has appeared. The video shows police hitting people in the crowd with batons while voters hold up their hands. | More video footage of police brutality against voters in Barcelona has appeared. The video shows police hitting people in the crowd with batons while voters hold up their hands. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.44pm BST | at 12.44pm BST |
| 12.23pm BST | 12.23pm BST |
| 12:23 | 12:23 |
| Spanish media are reporting someone hit in the eye with a rubber bullet has been taken into surgery at Sant Pau hospital in Barcelona. The injured person is said to have been hit by a police projectile after being removed from Ramón Llull school. | Spanish media are reporting someone hit in the eye with a rubber bullet has been taken into surgery at Sant Pau hospital in Barcelona. The injured person is said to have been hit by a police projectile after being removed from Ramón Llull school. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.26pm BST | at 12.26pm BST |