“Yes” side wins Catalonia independence vote marred by chaos
Spanish riot police shoots rubber bullet straight to people trying to reach a voting site at a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Spanish riot police have forcefully removed a few hundred would-be voters from several polling stations in Barcelona. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
People queue to vote at a school listed to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Polling has begun in a banned referendum on Catalonia’s independence, with the first voters casting ballots. Spanish riot police have smashed their way into polling stations to try to halt a disputed independence referendum and fired rubber bullets at protesters. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)
Spanish riot police swings a club against would-be voters near a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Spanish riot police have forcefully removed a few hundred would-be voters from several polling stations in Barcelona. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Civil guards force a man with a child to leave the entrance of a sports center, assigned to be a referendum polling station by the Catalan government in Sant Julia de Ramis, near Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Scuffles have erupted as voters protested as dozens of anti-rioting police broke into a polling station where the regional leader was expected to show up for voting on Sunday. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Pro-referendum supporters clash with Spanish National Police outside the Ramon Llull school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, early Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Catalan pro-referendum supporters vowed to ignore a police ultimatum to leave the schools they are occupying to use in a vote seeking independence from Spain. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A girls grimaces as Spanish National Police pushes away Pro-referendum supporters outside the Ramon Llull school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, early Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Catalan pro-referendum supporters vowed to ignore a police ultimatum to leave the schools they are occupying to use in a vote seeking independence from Spain. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
People block the street in a stand off with civil guards in Sant Julia de Ramis, near Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Scuffles have erupted as voters protested while dozens of anti-rioting police broke into a polling station where the regional leader was expected to show up for voting on Sunday. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Independence supporters gather in Barcelona’s main square, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Authorities say 844 people and 33 police were injured Sunday in Spanish police raids to halt the independence vote organized by the Catalan autonomous government that was declared ilegal by Spain’s constitutional court. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)
Independence supporters gather in Barcelona’s main square, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Authorities say 844 people and 33 police were injured Sunday in Spanish police raids to halt the independence vote organized by the Catalan autonomous government that was declared ilegal by Spain’s constitutional court. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)
Pro independence supporters play their drums with banner reading, ''Long life working class’’, while they walk through the old city in support of the Catalonia’s secession referendum, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Catalonia’s defiant regional government is pressing ahead with a ballot on seceding from Spain. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Pro independence supporter holds up ''esteleda’’ or Catalan pro independence flag while walks along the old city in support of the Catalonia’s secession referendum, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, Oct.1, 2017. Catalonia’s defiant regional government is pressing ahead with a ballot on seceding from Spain. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Pro independence supports wrapped by ''esteleda’’ or Catalan pro independence flags stand in front a balcony while people protest with banner reading, ''Self determination’’ in support of the Catalonia’s secession referendum, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Catalonia’s defiant regional government is pressing ahead with a ballot on seceding from Spain.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Votes are counted at a school assigned to be a referendum polling station by the Catalan government in Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. During the day Spanish riot police smashed their way into polling stations to try to halt a disputed independence referendum and fired rubber bullets at protesters. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Volunteers, acting as polling station officials, start to count ballots at a polling station in Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Spanish riot police, acting on orders from the Spanish government to stop the voting, which Spain’s Constitutional Court had declared illegal, smashed their way into Catalan polling stations Sunday to try to halt a disputed referendum on independence.(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Journalist take pictures as a volunteer, acting as polling station official, unseals a ballot box after the polling station closed at the Escola Industrial in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Spanish riot police, acting on orders from the Spanish government to stop the voting, which Spain’s Constitutional Court had declared illegal, smashed their way into Catalan polling stations Sunday to try to halt a disputed referendum on independence.(AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Pro-referendum supporters celebrate on the street after the closing of a polling station assigned by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday evening, 1 Oct. 2017. Spanish riot police have smashed their way into polling stations to try to halt a disputed independence referendum and fired rubber bullets at protesters. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
An elderly lady is applauded as she celebrates after voting at a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government at the Gracia neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. The Spanish government and its security forces are trying to prevent voting in the independence referendum, which is backed by Catalan regional authorities. Spanish officials had said force wouldn’t be used, but that voting wouldn’t be allowed. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Las Palmas is played at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Barcelona’s Spanish league game against Las Palmas is played without fans amid the controversial referendum on Catalonia’s independence. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spanish National Police officers in plain clothes try to snatch a ballot box from polling station officials at the Ramon Llull school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, early Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. The Spanish government and its security forces are trying to prevent voting in the independence referendum, which is backed by Catalan regional authorities. Spanish officials had said force wouldn’t be used, but that voting wouldn’t be allowed. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)
Spanish riot police removes fences thrown by people to them as they try to prevent people from reaching a voting site at a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Catalan pro-referendum supporters vowed Saturday to ignore a police ultimatum to leave the schools they are occupying to use in a vote seeking independence from Spain. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Spanish riot police shoots rubber bullet straight to people trying to reach a voting site at a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Spanish riot police have forcefully removed a few hundred would-be voters from several polling stations in Barcelona. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Spanish riot police shoots rubber bullet straight to people trying to reach a voting site at a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Spanish riot police have forcefully removed a few hundred would-be voters from several polling stations in Barcelona. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
People queue to vote at a school listed to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Polling has begun in a banned referendum on Catalonia’s independence, with the first voters casting ballots. Spanish riot police have smashed their way into polling stations to try to halt a disputed independence referendum and fired rubber bullets at protesters. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)
People queue to vote at a school listed to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Polling has begun in a banned referendum on Catalonia’s independence, with the first voters casting ballots. Spanish riot police have smashed their way into polling stations to try to halt a disputed independence referendum and fired rubber bullets at protesters. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)
Spanish riot police swings a club against would-be voters near a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Spanish riot police have forcefully removed a few hundred would-be voters from several polling stations in Barcelona. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spanish riot police swings a club against would-be voters near a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Spanish riot police have forcefully removed a few hundred would-be voters from several polling stations in Barcelona. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Civil guards force a man with a child to leave the entrance of a sports center, assigned to be a referendum polling station by the Catalan government in Sant Julia de Ramis, near Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Scuffles have erupted as voters protested as dozens of anti-rioting police broke into a polling station where the regional leader was expected to show up for voting on Sunday. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Civil guards force a man with a child to leave the entrance of a sports center, assigned to be a referendum polling station by the Catalan government in Sant Julia de Ramis, near Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Scuffles have erupted as voters protested as dozens of anti-rioting police broke into a polling station where the regional leader was expected to show up for voting on Sunday. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Pro-referendum supporters clash with Spanish National Police outside the Ramon Llull school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, early Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Catalan pro-referendum supporters vowed to ignore a police ultimatum to leave the schools they are occupying to use in a vote seeking independence from Spain. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Pro-referendum supporters clash with Spanish National Police outside the Ramon Llull school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, early Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Catalan pro-referendum supporters vowed to ignore a police ultimatum to leave the schools they are occupying to use in a vote seeking independence from Spain. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A girls grimaces as Spanish National Police pushes away Pro-referendum supporters outside the Ramon Llull school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, early Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Catalan pro-referendum supporters vowed to ignore a police ultimatum to leave the schools they are occupying to use in a vote seeking independence from Spain. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A girls grimaces as Spanish National Police pushes away Pro-referendum supporters outside the Ramon Llull school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, early Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Catalan pro-referendum supporters vowed to ignore a police ultimatum to leave the schools they are occupying to use in a vote seeking independence from Spain. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
People block the street in a stand off with civil guards in Sant Julia de Ramis, near Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Scuffles have erupted as voters protested while dozens of anti-rioting police broke into a polling station where the regional leader was expected to show up for voting on Sunday. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
People block the street in a stand off with civil guards in Sant Julia de Ramis, near Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Scuffles have erupted as voters protested while dozens of anti-rioting police broke into a polling station where the regional leader was expected to show up for voting on Sunday. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Independence supporters gather in Barcelona’s main square, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Authorities say 844 people and 33 police were injured Sunday in Spanish police raids to halt the independence vote organized by the Catalan autonomous government that was declared ilegal by Spain’s constitutional court. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)
Independence supporters gather in Barcelona’s main square, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Authorities say 844 people and 33 police were injured Sunday in Spanish police raids to halt the independence vote organized by the Catalan autonomous government that was declared ilegal by Spain’s constitutional court. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)
Independence supporters gather in Barcelona’s main square, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Authorities say 844 people and 33 police were injured Sunday in Spanish police raids to halt the independence vote organized by the Catalan autonomous government that was declared ilegal by Spain’s constitutional court. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)
Independence supporters gather in Barcelona’s main square, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Authorities say 844 people and 33 police were injured Sunday in Spanish police raids to halt the independence vote organized by the Catalan autonomous government that was declared ilegal by Spain’s constitutional court. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)
Pro independence supporters play their drums with banner reading, ''Long life working class’’, while they walk through the old city in support of the Catalonia’s secession referendum, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Catalonia’s defiant regional government is pressing ahead with a ballot on seceding from Spain. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Pro independence supporters play their drums with banner reading, ''Long life working class’’, while they walk through the old city in support of the Catalonia’s secession referendum, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Catalonia’s defiant regional government is pressing ahead with a ballot on seceding from Spain. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Pro independence supporter holds up ''esteleda’’ or Catalan pro independence flag while walks along the old city in support of the Catalonia’s secession referendum, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, Oct.1, 2017. Catalonia’s defiant regional government is pressing ahead with a ballot on seceding from Spain. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Pro independence supporter holds up ''esteleda’’ or Catalan pro independence flag while walks along the old city in support of the Catalonia’s secession referendum, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, Oct.1, 2017. Catalonia’s defiant regional government is pressing ahead with a ballot on seceding from Spain. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Pro independence supports wrapped by ''esteleda’’ or Catalan pro independence flags stand in front a balcony while people protest with banner reading, ''Self determination’’ in support of the Catalonia’s secession referendum, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Catalonia’s defiant regional government is pressing ahead with a ballot on seceding from Spain.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Pro independence supports wrapped by ''esteleda’’ or Catalan pro independence flags stand in front a balcony while people protest with banner reading, ''Self determination’’ in support of the Catalonia’s secession referendum, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Catalonia’s defiant regional government is pressing ahead with a ballot on seceding from Spain.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Votes are counted at a school assigned to be a referendum polling station by the Catalan government in Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. During the day Spanish riot police smashed their way into polling stations to try to halt a disputed independence referendum and fired rubber bullets at protesters. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Votes are counted at a school assigned to be a referendum polling station by the Catalan government in Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. During the day Spanish riot police smashed their way into polling stations to try to halt a disputed independence referendum and fired rubber bullets at protesters. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Volunteers, acting as polling station officials, start to count ballots at a polling station in Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Spanish riot police, acting on orders from the Spanish government to stop the voting, which Spain’s Constitutional Court had declared illegal, smashed their way into Catalan polling stations Sunday to try to halt a disputed referendum on independence.(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Volunteers, acting as polling station officials, start to count ballots at a polling station in Girona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Spanish riot police, acting on orders from the Spanish government to stop the voting, which Spain’s Constitutional Court had declared illegal, smashed their way into Catalan polling stations Sunday to try to halt a disputed referendum on independence.(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Journalist take pictures as a volunteer, acting as polling station official, unseals a ballot box after the polling station closed at the Escola Industrial in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Spanish riot police, acting on orders from the Spanish government to stop the voting, which Spain’s Constitutional Court had declared illegal, smashed their way into Catalan polling stations Sunday to try to halt a disputed referendum on independence.(AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Journalist take pictures as a volunteer, acting as polling station official, unseals a ballot box after the polling station closed at the Escola Industrial in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Spanish riot police, acting on orders from the Spanish government to stop the voting, which Spain’s Constitutional Court had declared illegal, smashed their way into Catalan polling stations Sunday to try to halt a disputed referendum on independence.(AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Pro-referendum supporters celebrate on the street after the closing of a polling station assigned by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday evening, 1 Oct. 2017. Spanish riot police have smashed their way into polling stations to try to halt a disputed independence referendum and fired rubber bullets at protesters. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Pro-referendum supporters celebrate on the street after the closing of a polling station assigned by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday evening, 1 Oct. 2017. Spanish riot police have smashed their way into polling stations to try to halt a disputed independence referendum and fired rubber bullets at protesters. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
An elderly lady is applauded as she celebrates after voting at a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government at the Gracia neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. The Spanish government and its security forces are trying to prevent voting in the independence referendum, which is backed by Catalan regional authorities. Spanish officials had said force wouldn’t be used, but that voting wouldn’t be allowed. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
An elderly lady is applauded as she celebrates after voting at a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government at the Gracia neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. The Spanish government and its security forces are trying to prevent voting in the independence referendum, which is backed by Catalan regional authorities. Spanish officials had said force wouldn’t be used, but that voting wouldn’t be allowed. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Las Palmas is played at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Barcelona’s Spanish league game against Las Palmas is played without fans amid the controversial referendum on Catalonia’s independence. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Las Palmas is played at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Barcelona’s Spanish league game against Las Palmas is played without fans amid the controversial referendum on Catalonia’s independence. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spanish National Police officers in plain clothes try to snatch a ballot box from polling station officials at the Ramon Llull school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, early Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. The Spanish government and its security forces are trying to prevent voting in the independence referendum, which is backed by Catalan regional authorities. Spanish officials had said force wouldn’t be used, but that voting wouldn’t be allowed. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)
Spanish National Police officers in plain clothes try to snatch a ballot box from polling station officials at the Ramon Llull school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, early Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. The Spanish government and its security forces are trying to prevent voting in the independence referendum, which is backed by Catalan regional authorities. Spanish officials had said force wouldn’t be used, but that voting wouldn’t be allowed. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)
Spanish riot police removes fences thrown by people to them as they try to prevent people from reaching a voting site at a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Catalan pro-referendum supporters vowed Saturday to ignore a police ultimatum to leave the schools they are occupying to use in a vote seeking independence from Spain. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Spanish riot police removes fences thrown by people to them as they try to prevent people from reaching a voting site at a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, 1 Oct. 2017. Catalan pro-referendum supporters vowed Saturday to ignore a police ultimatum to leave the schools they are occupying to use in a vote seeking independence from Spain. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Catalonia’s regional government declared a landslide win for the “yes” side in a disputed referendum on independence from Spain that degenerated into mayhem Sunday, with more than 800 people injured as riot police attacked peaceful protesters and unarmed civilians trying to cast their ballots.
Catalonia has “won the right to become an independent state,” Catalan president Carles Puigdemont said after the polls closed, adding that he would keep his pledge to declare independence unilaterally if the “yes” side wins.
“Today the Spanish state wrote another shameful page in its history with Catalonia,” Puigdemont added, saying he would appeal to the European Union to look into alleged human rights violations during the vote.
Catalan regional government spokesman Jordi Turull told reporters early Monday that 90 percent of the 2.26 million Catalans who voted chose the “yes” side in favor of independence. He said nearly 8 percent of voters rejected independence and the rest of the ballots were blank or void. He said 15,000 votes were still being counted.
The region has 5.3 million registered voters, and Turull said the number of ballots didn’t include those confiscated by Spanish police during violent raids that aimed to stop the vote.
No one knows what will happen if Catalan officials follow through on their pledge to use the vote as a basis for declaring independence, a provocation that would possible remove from Spain one of its most prosperous regions, including the coastal city of Barcelona, the regional capital.
Hundreds of police armed with truncheons and rubber bullets were sent in from other regions to confiscate ballots and stop the voting, and amateur video showed some officers dragging people out of polling stations by the hair, throwing some down stairs, kicking them and pushing them to the ground. Anguished, frightened screams could be heard.
Police were acting on a judge’s orders to stop the referendum, which the Spanish government had declared illegal and unconstitutional — and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said going forward with the vote only served to sow divisions.
In a televised address after the majority of polls closed Sunday, he thanked the Spanish police, saying they had acted with “firmness and serenity” — comments sure to anger Catalans.
Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said the violence, while “unfortunate” and “unpleasant” was “proportionate.”
“If people insist in disregarding the law and doing something that has been consistently declared illegal and unconstitutional, law enforcement officers need to uphold the law,” Dastis told The Associated Press in an interview.
Catalans favoring a break with Spain have long wanted more than the limited autonomy they now have, arguing that they contribute far more than they receive from the central government, which controls key areas including taxes and infrastructure. The police aggression on Sunday was likely to only fuel the passion for independence, and the main separatist group urged the regional government to declare independence after the violent crackdown.
By day’s end, Catalan health services said 844 civilians had been treated in hospitals for injuries, including two in serious condition and another person who was being treated for an eye injury that fit the profile of having been hit by a rubber bullet. Thirty-three police officers were also injured.
At the Pau Claris School in Barcelona, amateur footage filmed by one voter showed police roughing up unarmed people standing in their way. Amateur video from other locations showed similar tactics, with people seen being hit, kicked and thrown around by police, including elderly people with their dogs, young girls and regular citizens of all stripes. Many tried to shield themselves from being smacked on the head.
There were also some signs of provocation by activists. In footage released by the Spanish Interior Ministry, some protesters were seen throwing objects and metal barriers at riot police.
Elisa Arouca, who was waiting to vote outside the Estel school in central Barcelona, reacted with anger when national police agents yanked her and other prospective voters out of the way, then smashed open the door and confiscated the ballot boxes.
She had been planning to vote in favor of keeping Catalonia part of Spain, but decided instead to join the march for independence. She moved to another polling station to try and cast her vote in favor of breaking away.
“I was always against independence, but what the Spanish state is doing is making me change my mind,” she said. “The national police and civil guard are treating us like criminals.”
There was no organized campaign for the “no” side in the vote, which most national political parties boycotted because it lacked legal guarantees and was suspended by the courts. Polls in recent years have shown roughly half of the 7.5 million residents of the region want to remain a part of Spain.
Mari Martinez, a 43-year-old waitress, said she didn’t vote. “I don’t lean toward independence, because we are part of Spain,” she said. “Today’s violence is not good for anybody. We never should have gotten to this point. Politicians haven’t done their job, and they should have reached an agreement a long time ago.”
A member of the Israeli parliament, sent to observe the vote, said she was shocked by the use of rubber bullets by Spanish police against crowds of unarmed voters.
“We did expect a normal democratic process,” said Ksenia Svetlova, part of a delegation of 33 observers invited by Catalan officials. “We knew that a lot of police were here but still, you know, there should be a respect for the will of the people to vote regardless of what you think of the referendum.”
Tensions were running so high that Barcelona played its soccer game against Las Palmas without fans after the team announced the match would be played behind closed doors shortly before kickoff, with thousands of soccer fans already outside the stadium. Barcelona wanted to postpone the game but said the Spanish league refused the request.
Manuel Condeminas, a 48-year-old IT manager who tried to block police from driving away with ballot boxes on Sunday, said police had kicked him and others before using their batons and firing the rubber bullets.
Elsewhere, civil guard officers, wearing helmets and carrying shields, used a hammer to break the glass of the front door and a lock cutter to break into the Sant Julia de Ramis sports center near the city of Girona that was being used as a polling station. A woman injured outside the building was wheeled away on a stretcher by paramedics.
Clashes broke out less than an hour after polls opened, and not long before Puigdemont, the Catalan regional president, was expected to turn up to vote at the sports center. Polling station workers reacted peacefully and broke out into songs and chants challenging the officers’ presence. Puigdemont was forced to vote in Cornella de Terri, near the northern city of Girona, his spokesman said.
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Associated Press writer Alex Oller contributed to this report from Barcelona, and Gregory Katz and Frank Griffiths contributed from London.