Spain Moves Against Catalan Separatists With Police Raids
- Prime Minister Rajoy says he’ll pursue crackdown to the end
- Catalan vice president says Spain abusing fundamental rights
Spain’s Dastis Wants Clarity From May on Brexit
Spain’s Civil Guard raided Catalan government offices including the economy and social affairs departments and a data center as Madrid moved to shut down preparations for an illegal referendum planned for Oct. 1.
Nine officials were arrested as part of an operation that is expected to continue throughout the day, a spokesman for the Guardia Civil said. Among those detained was Josep Maria Jove Llado, No. 2 in the economy department, a press officer for the Barcelona-based executive said in a text message. Officers also seized ballot papers prepared for the vote from a warehouse in a village 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of Barcelona where two more people were arrested, according to Europa Press.