Catalan Diary, Tuesday 31 October 2017

Yesterday, hundreds of people gathered at the entrance of Catalunya Ràdio studios in Barcelona to guard the building against further attack.

The Catalan public broadcaster suffered an invasion by several dozen fascists within a few hours of the proclamation of the Catalan Republic.

Yesterday’s defence mobilisation was convened by En Peu de Pau, a collective advocating civil and peaceful resistance.

In the afternoon, hundreds of people also demonstrated in Barcelona to condemn Sunday’s fascist violence during the unionist demonstration against the Catalan Republic.

Along the route of the march, nazis linked to the Ultimo Bastión group hurled insults and abuse at counter-demonstrators and watching journalists. The Catalan police separated both groups and there were no incidents.

Meanwhile, threatened with a battery of criminal charges carrying sentences of up to 30 years, the dismissed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has gone to Belgium together with five of his government ministers.

Puigdemont’s lawyer, Paul Bekaert, said he had not gone into hiding and was unable to confirm whether he would seek asylum. Spain’s chief prosecutor is demanding that rebellion charges be brought against him and other organisers of Catalonia’s banned independence referendum.

The Spanish central government took direct control of Catalonia on Monday, replacing sacked officials. It suspended the region’s autonomy and called for fresh elections after Mr Puigdemont and his government declared independence last week.

On Tuesday, Spain’s Guardia Civil (a paramilitary force charged with police duties) raided the offices of the Catalan police force. According to media reports, they searched eight offices for communications relating to the referendum on 1 October.

VIDEO OF FASCIST ATTACKS OF SUNDAY: