Over 130 Protesters Injured In Spain After Court Imprisons Catalan Leaders

By Agencies

Spain: Over 130 people protestors were injured during a disagreement that erupted throughout Spain, following the Supreme Court sentencing several Catalan independence leaders to prison terms ranging from nine to 13 years, Catalan health authorities said.

“On 14 October, the SEM [System of Medical Emergencies] realised 131 medical assistance actions”, the Catalan Health Department’s public health agency said.

The agency added that the majority of people, 115, were injured in Barcelona’s El Prat airport.

Thousands of people throughout spain took to the streets on Monday following the ruling. Violence ensued with police using batons and foam bullets against the crowds.

​MAJOR BREAKING: Hundreds of thousands protest in Barcelona and across Catalonia to demand the release of the political prisoners. pic.twitter.com/T1kiSSoGRJ — Catalans for Yes ? (@CatalansForYes) October 14, 2019

Spanish media has reported that about 8,000 people congregated in El Prat on Monday to show support for the Catalan leaders and that at least three people had been detained in the protests.

According to the Spanish Aena flight operator, as cited by the El Periodico news outlet, a total of 45 out of 986 planned flights were cancelled on 15 October.

Hundreds of people slept on airport benches through the night, following the cancellation of 110 flights a day earlier, the outlet reported.

​ Thousands occupy Barcelona’s airport to demand Catalan independence and the release of the political prisoners. Awesome. pic.twitter.com/y12WY8XDyi — Catalans for Yes ? (@CatalansForYes) October 14, 2019

Earlier the same day, the semi-autonomous region’s former vice president and leader of the Republican Left of Catalonia party, Oriol Junqueras, was given the longest prison sentence of 13 years. Also, judge Pablo Llanera, who was heading the investigation case, reissued an international arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont, former Catalan president who now lives in exile in Belgium.

Catalonia has been striving to secede from Spain for decades. On 1 October 2017, Catalonia held a referendum in which 90 per cent of those who voted supported the region’s independence from Spain. The turnout was, however, less than 50 percent. Madrid declared the referendum illegal and arrested a number of pro-independence leaders.