Barcelona erupts in protest ahead of referendum for independence of Catalonia
Thousands gathered on Thursday at the gates of Catalonia’s judicial body in Barcelona to demand the release of officials arrested in connection with a vote on independence.
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Thousands of protesters gathered on Thursday in Barcelona to demand the release of a dozen officials arrested in connection with the independence vote for Catalonia. AP
Waving the "estelada" flag, a symbol of the Catalan separatism movement, protesters chanted pro-democracy slogans. AP
In order to stop the referendum of vote on 1 October, Spanish Guardia Civil officers arrested 14 senior officials after raiding the Catalan regional government offices on Wednesday. AP
As the word about the arrests spread, the Catalan National Assembly urged people to gather at noon Thursday outside the region's justice tribunal to voice their demands. AP
As the protests intensified, Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy warned Catalan leaders of "greater harm" if the referendum bid is not called off. AP