Police, Catalan separatists clash in Barcelona; train services hit
Barcelona, Oct 2 (IBNS): Spanish police clashed with Catalan separatists in Barcelona, as the latter took to the streets across Catalonia to celebrate the first anniversary of the referendum to gain independence from Spain, reports said.
Around 180,000 protesters joined the march in Barcelona, the regional capital.
Monday's protest was sponsored by the Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDRs), which demanded a separate identity for Catalonia.
Police resorted to wielding batons to disperse the crowd, which had gathered in front of the Catalan regional parliament.
High speed train services between Barcelona and Figueres took a hit as demonstrators occupied the tracks for hours.
The protesters also blocked roads between Lleida and Barcelona and the motorway between Madrid and the Catalan capital.
Demonstrations were also staged in London in the UK and in Paris, France.
The referendum vote, which took place on Oct 1, 2017, was deemed illegal by the Spanish government in Madrid.
The move allowed Madrid to impose a direct rule in Catalonia, dissolving the local government. While several separatist leaders were arrested, some fled the country and sought refuge in foreign lands.
However, the Spanish government ended its direct rule over Catalonia in June, earlier this year.
Though the country's Supreme Court has withdrawn the European Arrest Warrants against the fleeing separatist leaders, charges against them still remain.
They will face arrest upon their return to Spain.
Image Credit: twitter.com/CDRExteriors
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