The Spanish government has defended its response to the Catalan independence referendum
after more than 700 people were hurt when Spanish riot police stormed
polling stations and seized ballot papers in a last-minute effort to
stop the vote 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 police acting on the orders of the Catalan high court.
The large Ramon Llull school in central Barcelona
was the scene of a sustained operation, with witnesses describing
police using axes to smash the doors, charging the crowds and firing
rubber bullets.
Updates:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/01/dozens-injured-as-riot-police-storm-catalan-ref-polling-stations
The President of the Generalitat of Catalonia has released an official statement saying that Sunday's vote "was carried out thanks to the commitment, courage and bravery of millions of Catalans."
Carles Puigdemont also condemned "the brutal repression unleashed by Rajoy's government" and said democrats around the world are "shocked by the unjustified, abusive and severe police violence committed by the Spanish government."
Catalonia's Health Department has updated the number of people injured during Sunday's poll, saying a total of 844 people required medical assistance.
The Catalan branch of Spain's left-wing Podemos party has urged the international community to take a stand against Spain's "violence and brutality" during Sunday's controversial referendum.
"We
demand loud and clear... that the international community should take a
stand... If the EU and Mr. Juncker [President of the European
Commission] close their eyes to what is happening in Catalonia, it would
be clear that they are supporting repression, violence and brutality," Albano Dante Fachin Pozzi, the party's Secretary General in Catalonia told the media.
At least 33 officers were injured in clashes with voters during
Sunday's referendum, the Spanish interior ministry announced on Twitter. Nineteen
police officers and 14 members of the Spanish Civil Guard military
force required immediate medical assistance, the tweet said.
Updates:
https://www.rt.com/news/405135-spain-catalonia-independence-referendum/
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