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| Spain Catalonia: Puigdemont's arrest in Germany sparks mass protests | Spain Catalonia: Puigdemont's arrest in Germany sparks mass protests |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Protests broke out across the Spanish region of Catalonia on Sunday after former leader Carles Puigdemont was taken into custody in Germany. | Protests broke out across the Spanish region of Catalonia on Sunday after former leader Carles Puigdemont was taken into custody in Germany. |
| At least 89 people were injured in clashes with police and four arrests were made. | At least 89 people were injured in clashes with police and four arrests were made. |
| Mr Puigdemont, who is wanted in Spain for sedition and rebellion, was detained by German police acting on a European arrest warrant. | Mr Puigdemont, who is wanted in Spain for sedition and rebellion, was detained by German police acting on a European arrest warrant. |
| He appeared before a German judge on Monday and was remanded in custody. | |
| Prosecutor Georg-Friedrich Guentge said Mr Puigdemont "appeared calm and composed". | |
| Mr Puigdemont was detained while crossing from Denmark on his way to Belgium, where he has been living in self-imposed exile since Catalonia's parliament unilaterally declared independence from Spain in October. | Mr Puigdemont was detained while crossing from Denmark on his way to Belgium, where he has been living in self-imposed exile since Catalonia's parliament unilaterally declared independence from Spain in October. |
| A European warrant for his arrest was reissued on Friday. | A European warrant for his arrest was reissued on Friday. |
| Who is protesting? | Who is protesting? |
| In central Barcelona, protesters chanted "Freedom for the political prisoners" and "This Europe is shameful!" as they headed to the offices of the European Commission and the German consulate. | In central Barcelona, protesters chanted "Freedom for the political prisoners" and "This Europe is shameful!" as they headed to the offices of the European Commission and the German consulate. |
| Spanish news agency Efe estimated crowds of 55,000 in the centre of the city. | Spanish news agency Efe estimated crowds of 55,000 in the centre of the city. |
| Smaller demonstrations were held in Girona, where Mr Puigdemont once served as mayor, Tarragona and Lleida. Some protesters also formed road blocks in various locations. | Smaller demonstrations were held in Girona, where Mr Puigdemont once served as mayor, Tarragona and Lleida. Some protesters also formed road blocks in various locations. |
| Tensions in Catalonia are very high and its separatist leaders abandoned plans to name a new president after the arrest on Friday of the latest candidate, Jordi Turull, sparked protests in Barcelona. | Tensions in Catalonia are very high and its separatist leaders abandoned plans to name a new president after the arrest on Friday of the latest candidate, Jordi Turull, sparked protests in Barcelona. |
| Spain's Supreme Court has ruled 25 that Catalan leaders should be tried for rebellion, embezzlement or disobeying the state. They all deny the allegations. | Spain's Supreme Court has ruled 25 that Catalan leaders should be tried for rebellion, embezzlement or disobeying the state. They all deny the allegations. |
| How was Carles Puigdemont caught? | How was Carles Puigdemont caught? |
| German police said that Mr Puigdemont was detained by a highway patrol in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, which borders Denmark. | German police said that Mr Puigdemont was detained by a highway patrol in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, which borders Denmark. |
| He had been on a trip to Finland to meet lawmakers and attend a conference last week when the arrest warrant against him was reissued, taking him by surprise. | He had been on a trip to Finland to meet lawmakers and attend a conference last week when the arrest warrant against him was reissued, taking him by surprise. |
| He slipped out of Finland before the authorities could arrest him but only got as far as Germany before being intercepted. | He slipped out of Finland before the authorities could arrest him but only got as far as Germany before being intercepted. |
| His spokesman, Joan Maria Pique, said he had been heading to Belgium "to put himself, as always, at the disposal of Belgian justice". | His spokesman, Joan Maria Pique, said he had been heading to Belgium "to put himself, as always, at the disposal of Belgian justice". |
| International warrants for Mr Puigdemont and other Catalan leaders were withdrawn in December by a Spanish judge, who said they had shown a willingness to return to the country. | International warrants for Mr Puigdemont and other Catalan leaders were withdrawn in December by a Spanish judge, who said they had shown a willingness to return to the country. |
| What happens next? | What happens next? |
| Mr Puigdemont spent Sunday night in a prison in the north German town of Neumünster. | |
| His court appearance there on Monday was a formality to confirm his identity. The court remanded him in custody pending extradition proceedings. | |
| Mr Puigdemont faces charges of sedition, rebellion and misappropriation of public funds in Spain as a result of his role in last year's Catalan banned independence referendum. The charges in Spain could result in up to 30 years in prison. | Mr Puigdemont faces charges of sedition, rebellion and misappropriation of public funds in Spain as a result of his role in last year's Catalan banned independence referendum. The charges in Spain could result in up to 30 years in prison. |
| Germany has 60 days to decide whether to return him. | Germany has 60 days to decide whether to return him. |
| In order to do so, its judges need to assess whether the Spanish charges are punishable under German law. | In order to do so, its judges need to assess whether the Spanish charges are punishable under German law. |
| Criminal lawyer Martin Heger told Germany's Spiegel website (in German) that the lesser charge of misappropriation of public funds was also a crime under German law, and therefore it was clear that the exiled ex-leader would have to be extradited. | Criminal lawyer Martin Heger told Germany's Spiegel website (in German) that the lesser charge of misappropriation of public funds was also a crime under German law, and therefore it was clear that the exiled ex-leader would have to be extradited. |
| However, if he is extradited on that charge, he can only be tried on that offence. | However, if he is extradited on that charge, he can only be tried on that offence. |
| It is unclear whether the alleged crimes of rebellion and sedition are punishable in Germany. | It is unclear whether the alleged crimes of rebellion and sedition are punishable in Germany. |
| The extradition procedure can last about two months. | The extradition procedure can last about two months. |
| Mt Puigdemont also has the right to oppose the warrant and apply for asylum in Germany. | Mt Puigdemont also has the right to oppose the warrant and apply for asylum in Germany. |
| Spain's latest move is considered the most serious challenge to date to the Catalan independence movement. Almost the entire leadership now faces a major legal fight. | Spain's latest move is considered the most serious challenge to date to the Catalan independence movement. Almost the entire leadership now faces a major legal fight. |
| Various other Catalan politicians have been subjected to new warrants, including Catalonia's former education minister, Clara Ponsati. She is in Scotland, where she has a position at the University of St Andrews, and is preparing to hand herself in. | Various other Catalan politicians have been subjected to new warrants, including Catalonia's former education minister, Clara Ponsati. She is in Scotland, where she has a position at the University of St Andrews, and is preparing to hand herself in. |
| The number of European arrest warrants issued has increased since 2005, according to EU figures. In 2015, about 16,000 warrants were issued and about 5,000 executed. | The number of European arrest warrants issued has increased since 2005, according to EU figures. In 2015, about 16,000 warrants were issued and about 5,000 executed. |
| How did we get here? | How did we get here? |
| 1 October 2017: The independence referendum takes place in Catalonia; it is deemed illegal by Spain and boycotted by many potential voters | 1 October 2017: The independence referendum takes place in Catalonia; it is deemed illegal by Spain and boycotted by many potential voters |
| 27 October: Catalonia's leaders declare independence, which leads to the Spanish government imposing direct rule on the region and dissolving its parliament | 27 October: Catalonia's leaders declare independence, which leads to the Spanish government imposing direct rule on the region and dissolving its parliament |
| 30 October: Charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds are brought against various sacked members of the Catalan government, including Mr Puigdemont | 30 October: Charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds are brought against various sacked members of the Catalan government, including Mr Puigdemont |
| 2 November: Several former Catalan ministers are taken into custody in Spain | 2 November: Several former Catalan ministers are taken into custody in Spain |
| 3 November: European arrest warrants are issued against Mr Puigdemont and four of his allies, who have all fled to Belgium | 3 November: European arrest warrants are issued against Mr Puigdemont and four of his allies, who have all fled to Belgium |
| 5 December: A Spanish judge withdraws the European arrest warrants but says the group still face possible charges for sedition and rebellion | 5 December: A Spanish judge withdraws the European arrest warrants but says the group still face possible charges for sedition and rebellion |
| 21 December: Carles Puigdemont is re-elected to parliament during Catalan's regional elections - which Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy had called to "restore democracy" | 21 December: Carles Puigdemont is re-elected to parliament during Catalan's regional elections - which Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy had called to "restore democracy" |
| 1 March 2018: Mr Puigdemont says he is stepping aside and he backs detained activist Jordi Sanchez to run as Catalonia's president | 1 March 2018: Mr Puigdemont says he is stepping aside and he backs detained activist Jordi Sanchez to run as Catalonia's president |
| 21 March: Mr Sanchez drops his leadership bid and instead the candidacy is passed to Jordi Turull, who the following day is rejected by hardline separatists | 21 March: Mr Sanchez drops his leadership bid and instead the candidacy is passed to Jordi Turull, who the following day is rejected by hardline separatists |
| 23 March: Mr Turull and various others are arrested in Spain, and the European arrest warrants are reissued | 23 March: Mr Turull and various others are arrested in Spain, and the European arrest warrants are reissued |
| 25 March: Mr Puigdemont is detained in Germany | 25 March: Mr Puigdemont is detained in Germany |