Spanish government apologises for police violence in Catalonia independence referendum

The Spanish government has apologised for the first time for the violent crackdown by police during a controversial independence vote in Catalonia.

Police seized ballot boxes, dragged and beat people out of polling stations. Up to 900 were injured during the clashes.

Images and footage of armed officers using batons and rubber bullets on peaceful voters were widely condemned.


The Spanish government said at the time it had acted proportionately to try to stop last Sunday’s ballot, which was declared illegal under Spanish law by Madrid.

But on Friday, Enric Millo, the government’s official representative in Catalonia, said in a television interview: “When I see these images, and more so when I know people have been hit, pushed and even one person hospitalised, I can’t help but regret it and apologise on behalf of the officers that intervened.”

However, the conciliatory gesture was followed by the government approving a decree making it easier for companies to move their official base out of Catalonia.

Catalan bank Sabadell – owner of Britain’s TSB – announced on Friday it was transferring its registered offices out of the region to Alicante in southern Spain “to protect the interests of our customers, shareholders and employees” amid the political turmoil.

It came as Catalan President Carles Puigdemont put off until Tuesday an appearance in the regional parliament amid growing challenges for his government to deliver on a pledge to declare independence for the northeastern region.

On Thursday, Spain’s Constitutional Court ordered the suspension of the session which was scheduled to begin on Monday.

And Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy urged Catalonia’s political leaders to abandon their plans to split the country to avoid “greater evils”.

In other developments, the Catalan chief of police, Josep Lluis Trapero, has appeared before a judge accused of failing to protect Spanish national police from protesters ahead of the referendum.

He was quizzed in Madrid along with Catalan police lieutenant Teresa Laplana, who was questioned by video link from Barcelona due to health reasons; Jordi Sanchez, head of the Catalan National Assembly that has been the main civic group behind the independence movement; and Jordi Cuixart, president of separatist group Omnium Cultural.

All four were unconditionally released – and will be questioned again in the coming days – as part of an investigation into sedition against the state in the run-up to the vote.

Outside the High Court, protesters held up referendum ballot papers.

Meanwhile, the run up to Spain’s World Cup qualifier against Albania later has been marked by controversy over Barcelona defender Gerard Pique’s views on the referendum.

Pique has insisted he will not quit the national side despite being booed by his own supporters following the unrest in his native Catalonia.