The Catalan government has said 337 people have been injured “by the Spanish state police violence.” They have accused Spanish police of responding with a ‘go get them’ attitude.
The Catalan foreign minister Raül Romeva has said: “We have initiated contacts with the EU about the violation of fundamental rights that puts the very same EU at risk.
“We urge Europe’s institutions to condemn the violence that European citizens are suffering”
Spokesman @jorditurull: "337 people have been injured by the Spanish state police violence. We ask them to file a complaint with @mossos"
Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, the Spanish deputy prime minister, said in a press conference that the “absolute irresponsibility of the Catalan government has had to be dealt with by the professionalism of the state’s security forces. With firmness and and proportionality we have thrown into disarray the Generalitat’s plans. There hasn’t been a referendum nor the semblance of one. Nothing good will come of this.”
Catalonia’s ombudsman has said he will complain about the Spanish government’s tactics to European authorities including the European council, according to AP.
Rafael Ribo said on Sunday the government forces had used disproportionate tactics in “violent actions against citizens” while trying to shut down the disputed independence referendum.
Ribo, an appointee by the regional parliament who leads the office overseeing citizens’ rights, said in an emotional appearance before reporters that the Spanish government has shown “little respect for human rights”.
He called on the government to stop all violent actions against citizens.
Former Catalan president Artur Mas has told Spanish TV that the prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, should “resign immediately” from his position. He said Rajoy is in charge of a “violent state”, calling the Spanish leader “authoritarian” and “a represser”.
On police violence, Mas said: “We cannot be in a common state project which uses batons and police brutality.”
The Spanish interior ministry has said nine police officers and two Guardia Civil officers have been injured while trying to stop the referendum. They also posted a video of “hooded” figures throwing objects at police in central Barcelona.
Video footage of police brutality against voters in Girona has appeared. The video shows police hitting people in the crowd with batons while voters hold up their hands.
Spanish media are reporting someone hit in the eye with a rubber bullet has been taken into surgery at Sant Pau hospital in Barcelona. The injured person is said to have been hit by a police projectile after being removed from Ramón Llull school.
