MADRID (AP) — Spanish police arrested at least 12 people Wednesday in raids on Catalan government offices, news reports said, as national authorities intensified a crackdown on the region's preparations for a secession vote that Spain says is illegal.
It was the first time Spanish authorities have detained Catalan officials since the campaign for a secession vote in Catalonia began to gather momentum in 2011.
The move was the latest spike in tension in the standoff between authorities based in Madrid and pro-independence Catalans. Almost immediately after the news, hundreds of Catalans gathered to angrily protest the raids outside government offices in the region's capital, Barcelona.
Some demonstrators sat down in the street to block police cars, while others scuffled with officers.
Catalonia's President Carles Puigdemont blasted the police operations as "unlawful" and accused the national government of adopting a "totalitarian attitude."
Spain's Europa Press news agency and other media outlets said the raids mostly targeted Catalonia's economic and foreign departments as authorities worked to halt all preparatory moves for the referendum planned for Oct. 1. Police and judicial authorities declined to give details of the operation, saying a judge has placed a secrecy order on it.
The Catalan regional government confirmed Josep Maria Jove, secretary general of economic affairs, was among those arrested. Jove is number 2 to the region's vice president and economy chief, Oriol Junqueras. Police and judicial authorities declined to give details on the operation, saying a judge has placed a secrecy order on it.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said his conservative government is determined to prevent the ballot. He said the Catalan government is going against the Spanish constitution by holding the vote and that "logically, the state has to act."
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