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Catalonia referendum: Spain steps up raids to halt vote Catalonia referendum: Spain steps up raids to halt vote
(35 minutes later)
Spain's Guardia Civil police have detained a dozen senior Catalan officials and raided regional government ministries involved in organising a banned independence vote.Spain's Guardia Civil police have detained a dozen senior Catalan officials and raided regional government ministries involved in organising a banned independence vote.
Tensions were already high when Josep Maria Jové, number two in the Catalan vice presidency, and others were held. Tensions were already high when Josep Maria Jové, number two in the Catalan vice-presidency, and others were held.
Catalan leaders are defying a court order to halt the vote, condemned by the Madrid government as illegal.Catalan leaders are defying a court order to halt the vote, condemned by the Madrid government as illegal.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the state had been forced to act.Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the state had been forced to act.
One Catalan leader called for peaceful resistance to protect the buildings. But after an emergency cabinet meeting Catalan President Carles Puigdemont accused the Madrid government of "de facto" suspending the region's autonomy and imposing a state of emergency.
Wednesday's operation was a dramatic intensification of Spain's attempt to stop the vote taking place. And in a separate move Spain's finance minister, Cristóbal Montoro, said the national government was now set to take control of a large part of Catalonia's public finances.
Why is Spain cracking down?
Eleven days ahead of the planned vote on 1 October, the national government has made its biggest move yet to stop it happening.
Spain did not stop an earlier vote taking place in November 2014, but this time the Catalan leadership plans a declaration of independence within 48 hours of a Yes vote. Spain's government has been backed by the Constitutional Court, which has suspended the referendum law passed by the Catalan parliament.
Mr Rajoy said the regional government had been warned that they were destroying Spain's national sovereignty, "There's no democratic state in the world that would accept what these people are planning," he said. He urged the Catalan president to comply with the law and put his secessionist challenge into "reverse gear".
Several ministries in Barcelona were raided on Wednesday, including the economy, foreign affairs, telecoms, social affairs and presidency buildings. Among those detained were officials from the economy ministry, run by Catalan Vice-President Oriol Junqueras, as well as figures from other departments.
Police were searching for computer equipment and any documentation linked to the planned vote. The day before, they seized some 45,000 envelopes with the Catalan government's logo from a private delivery company in Terrassa, north-west of Barcelona.
On Friday, the Spanish finance minister gave Oriol Junqueras a deadline to call off the vote or see funding for essential services in Catalonia taken over by Madrid. A letter was sent to Mr Junqueras late on Tuesday reminding him the deadline had passed.
A risky escalation
By James Badcock, BBC News, Madrid
The spate of raids and arrests in Barcelona is a clear escalation by the Spanish state as it tries to deactivate the planned referendum.
Previous raids have targeted sites suspected of holding electoral material. Arresting officials from an elected government risks further polarising Catalan society between those who want independence and those who do not.
Although the Catalan independence movement has so far been peaceful, raids on government premises carried out by a Spanish militarised police force, the Guardia Civil, create uncomfortable echoes of the Franco dictatorship.
Demonstrators are already taking to the streets to protect their "right to decide". And there is a risk of clashes between pro-independence activists and police forces with orders to stop the vote.
How are Catalan leaders responding?
One Catalan leader called for peaceful resistance to protect the buildings as the regional government met in emergency session.
"The time has come - let's resist peacefully; let's come out and defend our institutions," the president of the Catalan National Assembly, Jordi Sánchez, tweeted."The time has come - let's resist peacefully; let's come out and defend our institutions," the president of the Catalan National Assembly, Jordi Sánchez, tweeted.
Catalan Vice-President Oriol Junqueras accused Spanish police of attacking the region's institutions and therefore its citizens too. "We will not allow it," he said. He did not have to wait long. Hundreds of protesters rallied outside the economy ministry as the police operation took place, chanting "We will vote" and surrounding the Guardia Civil cars stationed outside.
The Catalan vice-president accused Spanish police of attacking the region's institutions and therefore its citizens too. "We will not allow it," he said.
In Madrid, Catalan separatist MP Gabriel Rufián told the prime minister in parliament he should take his "dirty hands" off Catalonia's institutions, Efe news agency reported.In Madrid, Catalan separatist MP Gabriel Rufián told the prime minister in parliament he should take his "dirty hands" off Catalonia's institutions, Efe news agency reported.
Hundreds of protesters rallied outside the economy ministry as the operation took place, chanting "We will vote" and surrounding the Guardia Civil cars stationed outside. Do Catalans want independence?
How Spanish authorities are cracking down Some 7.5 million people live in Spain's well-off north-eastern region and a majority are thought to be in favour of having a vote. However, one survey commissioned by the Catalan government in July suggested that 41% of voters backed independence while 49% were opposed.
Several ministries in Barcelona were raided on Wednesday, including the economy, foreign affairs, telecoms, social affairs and presidency buildings, 11 days before the planned referendum. The operation was a dramatic intensification of Spain's attempt to stop the vote taking place. Catalan nationalism has been stirred by Spain's economic crisis. While Catalonia is one of Spain's wealthiest regions, Catalans argue they pay more into the national budget than they get back. And a 2010 Constitutional Court ruling fuelled nationalist anger when it set limits on Catalan claims to nationhood.
Police were searching for computer equipment and any documentation linked to the planned 1 October vote. The day before, they seized some 45,000 envelopes with the Catalan government's logo from a private delivery company in Terrassa, north-west of Barcelona. In the non-binding 2014 vote, branded illegal by the Madrid government, just 2.2 million voters out of a potential 5.4 million turned out. Officials said 80% of them backed independence.
Mr Rajoy said the regional government had been warned that they were destroying Spain's national sovereignty. "There's no democratic state in the world that would accept what these people are planning," he said. He urged Catalan President Carles Puigdemont to comply with the law and put his secessionist challenge into "reverse gear".
Spain's government backed up by police and courts
The Madrid government has been backed up by Spain's Constitutional Court, which suspended the referendum law passed by the Catalan parliament.
Spain's national police has co-ordinated the raids. However, on Tuesday it has also had support from the regional Mossos d'Esquadra police force, which quelled a protest outside the Unipost delivery firm in Terrassa. Scuffles took place involving Catalan officers and pro-secession protesters.
Some 7.5 million people live in Spain's well-off north-eastern region. A majority of Catalans are thought to be in favour of having a vote. However, one survey commissioned by the Catalan government in July suggested that 41% of voters backed independence while 49% were opposed.
The Spanish government has also moved to take control of Catalonia's finances, in an attempt to stop public money being spent on the vote.
A deadline for the Catalan leadership to abandon the vote has run out, with Spain preparing to take over funding of most public services, including the payment of workers' salaries.
Stacks of boxes of envelopes found
One of the most important aims for the national authorities is to stop voting cards being sent out in the first place.
Among the documents seized in Terrassa were boxes suspected of containing voting cards. In earlier raids, only posters and other promotional election literature had been found.
A local judge in Terrassa authorised police to seize the envelopes and open one to assess whether a company official may have been involved in "misappropriating public money" for the 1 October vote.
The mayors of three small Catalan towns appeared in court on Tuesday on suspicion of helping the vote take place.
Spanish prosecutors have opened an investigation into more than 700 local mayors who have backed the referendum. If voting does go ahead, it will take place in Catalonia's schools and municipal buildings.
A deadline for the Catalan leadership to abandon the vote has run out, with Spain preparing to take over funding of most public services, including the payment of workers' salaries.
However, the vice-president of the Catalan government, Oriol Junqueras, went to the Supreme Court on Tuesday to appeal against the decision. Accusing the national government of irresponsible behaviour, he said he was confident the appeal would in effect suspend Madrid's move.
The Catalan administration had all the resources it needed to meet its obligations, he said.