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Broken glass, rubber bullets and an empty stadium: Catalonian referendum in 10 powerful images Ballot box seizures & rubber bullets: Catalonian referendum in powerful pictures & videos
(about 1 hour later)
Whatever the legal outcome of the Catalonian referendum, the pro-independence side scored a decisive public victory on October 1, as instantly-iconic images contrasted their passion against the combative nature of the uniformed government enforcers. Whatever the legal outcome of the Catalonian referendum, the pro-independence side scored a decisive public victory on October 1, as instantly-iconic images contrasted their passion against the combative nature of the uniformed federal government enforcers.
LIVE UPDATES: Catalonia votes for independence amid violent attempts to thwart referendumLIVE UPDATES: Catalonia votes for independence amid violent attempts to thwart referendum
With the referendum declared illegal by Madrid, special police units drafted in from across Spain broke into polling stations at dawn to seize ballot boxes. With the referendum declared illegal by Madrid, special police units drafted in from across Spain smashed into polling stations at dawn to seize ballot boxes.
To avoid retribution, officials covered their faces.
At many polling stations, crowds had already gathered to cast their votes. The arrival of anti-riot police and the civil guard ignited heated confrontations. At many stations, crowds had already gathered to cast their votes, and the arrival of riot police and the civil guard ignited heated confrontations.
Police responded with rubber bullets and truncheons, forcibly moving protesters who attempted to occupy the voting stations. More than 840 people were treated for injuries across Catalonia. Police actively used rubber bullets and truncheons to forcibly remove voters and disperse crowds of pro-independence demonstrators, injuring at least 840 people across Catalonia.
The plan failed to foil the referendum, as Catalonian authorities said 73 percent of all polling stations remained open. Queues formed around blocks and in public squares. Scenes of Spanish police violently clashing with the voters quickly spread on social media, provoking outcry and condemnation across Catalonia.
To avoid escalating an already inflamed situation, and in support of Catalonia's right to express their will freely, FC Barcelona, a pillar of the region’s identity, played its league match against Las Palmas behind closed doors, while crowds outside and all around the city resembled those at a football match. Barca won 3-0. In the southern Catalan town of Mont-roig del Camp, demonstrators forced a squadron of the civil guard to retreat.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy cut a lonely figure with a farcical declaration that "no referendum has been held in Catalonia today," 600 km away in Madrid. Catalan police were forced into multiple standoffs with Spain’s Guardia Civil unit amid widespread violence, while local support for the Mossos d’Esquadra even brought the officers to tears.
Over 90 percent of those able to vote supported independence, with over 2,2 million ballots cast in total, excluding those that were seized during police raids on polling stations. Local Catalonian firefighters also tried to form a human shield to protect people from federal law enforcers, but were beaten by baton wielding riot cops.
The local government said it's poised to declare their independence in according with the results of the vote, deepening the split with Madrid. In support of Catalonia's right to express their will freely, and to avoid escalating an already inflamed situation, FC Barcelona, a pillar of the region’s identity, played its league match against Las Palmas behind closed doors while crowds outside and all around the city resembled those at a football match. Barca won 3-0.
Madrid's plan to foil the poll failed, as Catalonian authorities said 73 percent of all polling stations remained open. Over 90 percent of those able to vote supported independence, with over 2,2 million total ballots cast, excluding those that were seized during police raids.