More than 700 are hurt in poll clashes
Violence as ballot boxes confiscated in Catalonia
CATALONIA: More than 700 people have been injured in clashes with police who were trying to prevent a referendum on independence from taking place, Barcelona’s mayor Ada Colau said.
SPANISH RIOT police smashed their way into Catalan polling stations yesterday to try to halt a disputed referendum on independence, firing rubber bullets and attacking voters who were trying to stop them from confiscating ballots.
At least 844 people and 33 police were reported injured in the raids last night although the figure was constantly rising throughout the night.
In a televised address after the polls in the north-eastern region closed, Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy insisted there had been no independence referendum in Catalonia.
In comments sure to anger Catalonians, he praised the Spanish police, saying they acted with “firmness and serenity” in response to the referendum.
However the region’s leader Carles Puigdemont said Catalonia “has won the right to become an independent state”.
Speaking on television from Barcelona after polling stations had closed, Mr Puigdemont said “today the Spanish state wrote another shameful page in its history with Catalonia”.
Mr Puigdemont said: “I will make a direct appeal to the European Union” to look into alleged human rights violations by the Spanish government on Sunday.”
Police were acting on orders from a judge to stop the voting process, which Spain says is illegal under the constitution.
It is still unclear how many of the region’s 5.3 million eligible voters turned out, what happens next if the region does declare independence based on the vote and whether Spain might be plunged deeper into a constitutional crisis.
Police used batons, fired rubber bullets, and roughed up voters. Catalan authorities say police even used tear gas.
The people seen in videos being hit, kicked and thrown around by police included elderly people with their dogs, young girls and regular citizens of all stripes. Many tried to shield themselves from being smacked on the head. Some screamed in fear.
Catalan’s health service said two people were in serious condition in hospitals in Barcelona and another person was being treated for an eye injury that fit the profile of having been hit by a rubber bullet.
Barcelona mayor Ada Colau called on Mr Rajoy to resign after the violence. Spain’s foreign minister Alfonso Dastis called the violence “unfortunate” and “unpleasant” but “proportionate”.
The Spanish state wrote another shameful page in its history. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who declared it has won the right to independence.