Former Catalan independence leader hands himself in as protests escalate

Spain wants to extradite Carles Puigdemont for unilaterally declaring independence of the region

Pro-independence Catalan protesters burn barricades after a previous protest called by the local Republic Defence Committees (CDR) in Barcelona on October 17, 2019. After years of peaceful separatist demonstrations, violence finally exploded on the Catalan streets this week, led by activists frustrated by the political paralysis and infuriated by the Supreme Court's conviction of nine of its leaders over a failed independence bid. / AFP / Pau Barrena

Catalan protesters gesture behind barricades in flames after a demonstration called by the local Republic Defence Committees (CDR) in Barcelona on October 17, 2019. AFP / LUIS GENE

An Estelada (Catalan separatist flags) hangs from an overpass as demonstrators march during Catalonia's general strike in El Masnou, Spain, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Catalan demonstrators wearing and waving Esteladas (Catalan separatist flags) chant slogans as they march during Catalonia's general strike in El Masnou, Spain, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Catalan demonstrators chant slogans in front of La Sagrada Familia basilica during Catalonia's general strike in Barcelona, Spain, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Albert Gea

An elderly man joins a pro-independence gathering outside the Sagrada Família basilica i on the fifth day of protests over the conviction of a dozen Catalan independence leaders in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. AP Photo/Bernat Armangue

Pro-independence protesters march along a highway in San Vicenc dels Horts, on October 18, 2019, on the day that separatists have called a general strike and a mass rally. AFP / Pau Barrena

Protesters ride on tractors as they enter the city on the fifth day of protests over the conviction of a dozen Catalan independence leaders in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, October 18, 2019. AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

Catalan demonstrators wave Esteladas (Catalan separatist flags) as they block roads during Catalonia's general strike in Sant Just Desvern, Spain, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Juan Medina

Catalan independence protests continued on Friday as the movement’s former president, who led the country’s failed bid for independence two years ago, handed himself into authorities in Belgium in response to the reactivation of an international arrest warrant earlier this week.

Spain has called for Carles Puigdemont to be extradited but he rejects the arrest warrant. The politician walked free shortly after he handed himself in “voluntarily” to the authorities, though it was not clear whether he was questioned or not.

Mr Puigdemont led Catalonia between January 2016 and October 2017, but had to flee to Belgium to avoid arrest after being sacked by the Spanish government for staging a unilateral referendum and making a unilateral declaration of Catalan independence.

Spain filed the arrest warrant to Mr Puigdemont on Tuesday but Belgium’s federal prosecutor insisted that Spain needed to refile the document in one of Belgium’s three languages – French, Flemish and German – or in English. The translated warrant is expected to arrive next week.

In a statement, Mr Puigdemont’s office said: “[Carles] Puigdemont, accompanied by his lawyers, has appeared, voluntarily, before the Belgian authorities in response to the European arrest warrant issued by the Spanish supreme court.”

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont leaves free a prosecutor office at the Justice Palace after handing himself to police in Brussels, Belgium October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Huge demonstrations have swept across Catalonia over the jailing of nine Catalan separatist leaders by the Spanish supreme court on Monday.

Thousands of demonstrators waving pro-independence flags marched across the region and chanted “freedom for political prisoners”, while a general strike took place.

Violent clashes escalated in Barcelona late Friday, as radical Catalan separatists hurled rocks and fireworks at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, turning the city centre into a chaotic battleground.

Around half a million people rallied in Barcelona. But while most marchers appeared peaceful, hoards of young protesters went on the rampage near the police headquarters, igniting a huge blaze which sent plumes of black smoke into the air, as police fired tear gas to disperse them.

Other fires raged near Plaza de Catalunya at the top of the tourist hotspot Las Ramblas, where hundreds of demonstrators rallied in defiance of the police, who tried to disperse them with water cannon.

"Anti-fascist Catalonia!" they roared. "The streets will always be ours!"

Scores of police vans could be seen fanning out around the streets, their sirens screaming as the regional police warned people in a message in English on Twitter "not to approach" the city centre.

The protests have caused significant disruption. Major roads have been blocked off in the regional capital and across Catalonia. Hundreds of flights and trains have also been cancelled amid the protests.

On Friday Spanish club football’s largest football match – Barcelona vs Real Madrid – was postponed because of the unrest. The game was expected to take place on October 26.

Segrada La Familia - the city's famous gothic cathedral that attracts around 3 million visitors a year - was shut down amid the demonstrations on Friday, Reuters reported.

The historic site’s official Twitter account said a group of protesters stood at the entrance and access to the premise - one of Barcelona’s main tourist attractions - could not be guaranteed anymore.

Barcelona had its worst evening of violence on Thursday. Although protests began in a mainly peaceful manner, later in the evening demonstrators set fire to café chairs on Rambla de Catalunya street, one of the city’s top tourist areas.

Regional police said 16 people were arrested across Catalonia as a result of the violence, while health officials said medical aid was provided to 42 people.