The leader of Catalonia has announced that the region will declare independence in a matter of days.
Carles Puigdemont said that his government would ‘act at the end of this week or the beginning of next’.
When asked what Puigdemont would do if the Spanish government were to intervene and take control of Catalonia’s government, he said it would be ‘an error which changes everything’.
Last night, thousands marched outside the General Direction of the National Police of Spain in Barcelona to protest against the violence that marred Sunday’s referendum.
It comes as Spain’s King Felipe VI condemned the Catalan authorities over their ‘irresponsible conduct’ after an ‘illegal’ vote was held.
The referendum has plunged Spain into its worst constitutional crisis in decades with millions voting for separation in defiance of Spanish courts that had ruled the ballot illegal.
Thousands of people chanting slogans as they gather outside the General Direction of the National Police of Spain building to protest against the violence that marred Sunday’s referendum vote
A woman carries an independence Catalan flag as demonstrators march downtown Barcelona against the confiscation of ballot boxes and charges on unarmed civilians during Sunday’s referendum
According to the Catalonia’s government more than two million people voted on Sunday in the referendum of Catalonia, which the Government in Madrid had declared illegal and undemocratic
Officials said that 90 per cent of votes cast were for independence. The Catalan goverment’s spokesman said that an estimated of 770,000 votes were lost as a result of 400 polling stations being raided by Spanish police
Riot police watch on as anti-independence demonstrators wave Spanish flags as they march in Barcelona, Spain tonight
The referendum has plunged Spain into its worst constitutional crisis in decades with millions voting for separation in defiance of Spanish courts that had ruled the ballot illegal
Carles Puigdemont, the leader of Catalonia, has announced that the region will declare independence in a matter of days
Catalan Police officers secure the area as thousands of people chant slogans outside the General Direction of the National Police of Spain building
During a press conference, Spain’s King Felipe VI, (pictured) condemned the Catalan authorities over their ‘irresponsible conduct’
A woman waves a Spanish flag at the end of a march against police violence in Barcelona. Thousands of people demonstrated in an outcry against police violence on Sunday
Some 900 people were injured on polling day when police fired rubber bullets and charged at crowds with truncheons to disrupt the vote.
The shocking scenes of violence seen over the weekend followed years of confrontation between Catalan separatists and the central authorities.
During tonight’s press conference, King Felipe VI said: ‘They could have put at risk the economy of Catalonia and even of Spain.
‘All this means is that they have attempted to appropriate the historical institutions of Catalonia and these authorities in a clear and definitive way and they have put themselves outside the rule of law and democracy.
‘They have tried to break the unity of Spain and national sovereignty which is the right of all the Spanish people to decide democratically.
‘In view of this extremely serious situation, it requires a commitment from everybody.
‘It is the responsibility of the legitimate powers of the state to make sure the constitutional order is abided by.’
Thousands of citizens gather in Plaza Universitat during a regional general strike to protest Sunday’s violence
Voice of the people: Catalan officials say 90 per cent of the 2.2million votes cast was for independence, but the Spanish government has called the referendum illegal and the resulit invalid
Angry crowds have chased riot officers out of Catalan towns in protest against police brutality during Sunday’s independence referendum
When asked what Puigdemont would do if the Spanish government were to intervene and take control of Catalonia’s government, he said it would be ‘an error which changes everything’
Protest: Catalan independence supporters raise their hands, some painted in white, as a symbol of protest after nearly 900 people were injured as police tried to forcibly disrupt a referendum on independence
Unscheduled speeches by kings in Spain have not been common but both Felipe VI and his father, King Juan Carlos I have delivered addresses in moments of high political tension or in the wake of terror attacks.
Earlier today, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Catalonia in protest against the violent crackdown by Spanish police.
Metro stations shut down in Barcelona, pickets blocked dozens of roads and state workers walked out in response to a call for a general strike by pro-independence groups and trade unions.
Hundreds of police officers have been kicked out of Catalonia hotels after some used batons to attack protesters demonstrating about brutal tactics used during Sunday’s referendum vote. Police are pictured at a separate hotel in Pineda de Mar north of Barcelona as a protest was taking place outside
Noisy protests have taken place outside other establishments police were staying at including in the Catalan city of Lleida and towns of Reus and Pineda de Mar (pictured in the early hours of this morning)
National Police officers gesture as they arrive at their hotel while people protest outside in Pineda de Mar north of Barcelona, this morning
FC Barcelona, the city’s football club, joined the strike, saying it would close for the day and none of its teams would train. Carmaker SEAT was forced to shut a production line.
Catalonia, Spain’s richest region, has its own language and culture and a political movement for secession that has strengthened in recent years.
Those who participated voted overwhelmingly for independence, a result that was expected since residents who favour remaining part of Spain mainly boycotted the vote.
Crowds of pro-referendum supporters celebrate on the street outside a polling station in Barcelona last night
Thousands of campaigners gathered in the centre of Barcelona today and waved Estelada separatists flags in recognition of yesterday’s vote
Opinion polls conducted before the vote suggested only a minority of around 40 percent of residents in the region back independence. But a majority want a referendum to be held, and protesters said the violent police crackdown against the ballot had energised the secessionist camp.
‘What happened on Oct. 1 has fired up independence feeling that will never die,’ said 18-year-old student Monica Ventinc, who attended a protest on Tuesday.
It was not immediately clear where the police and Civil Guards staying at the hotels would be housed, although one of three ferries in the ports of Tarragona and Barcelona where nearly 3,000 anti-riot police are staying has been put forward as an option. Police are pictured carrying cheering and waving Spanish flags at a hotel in Pineda de Mar this morning
A strike has been called in Catalonia today in response to Sunday’s police violence by new group La Taula per la Democracia, Catalan for ‘Table for Democracy’
On financial markets, Spain’s 10-year borrowing costs hit their highest level in nearly three months as tensions between Madrid and Catalonia spilled on to the streets.
Several demonstrations unfolded across Catalonia on Tuesday. To the north of Barcelona, a line of tractors moved down a road blocked to traffic, accompanied by protesters chanting ‘Independence!’ and ‘The streets will always be ours!’
Crowds gathered outside the local headquarters of Spain’s ruling People’s Party (PP) and the Spanish national police headquarters in Barcelona, whistling and waving the red-and-yellow regional flag.
Groups of firemen marched and played bagpipes in Barcelona as people cheered them. Outside the PP offices, people threw voting papers into the air and chanted ‘We voted’.
Celebrations went on into the night as people celebrated victory in the banned Catalonia referendum last night
Demonstrators wave flags as they celebrate the results of the referendum which was staged yesterday amid scenes of violence
Officers were seen stamping and kicking protesters as they stormed buildings and seized ballot boxes in Barcelona
People entwined flowers into the gates of Ramon Llull school, where Spanish police clashed with those wanting to vote in the banned referendum on Sunday.
Barcelona tourist attractions such as museums and architect Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia church, were shut.
SEAT, owned by Germany’s Volkswagen, was forced to halt production on one of three production lines at its plant 40 kms (25 miles) from Barcelona in the afternoon because the road closures interrupted supply of a part, a spokesman said.
But some businesses operated normally and it was difficult to estimate what proportion of workers heeded the strike call.
‘In no way can we accept that they come here with this kind of repression,’ taxi driver Alejandro Torralbo, standing outside the PP headquarters, said of Sunday’s police action.
Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Puigdemont and his regional government had lost respect for the democratic process and were showing a flagrant disregard for the law.
‘I’ve seen how President Puigdemont has flooded the streets with his followers to stop people obeying the law and to make them disrespect justice,’ she said.
‘We are here to defend the rights and liberties of all Spaniards that have been trampled upon by the regional government.’