Spanish authorities are reeling after needed Catalan separatist chief Carles Puigdemont was in a position to tackle a rally in Barcelona, regardless of an enormous safety operation designed to intercept him.
The founding father of the Collectively for Catalonia get together and one-time president of Catalonia returned from exile to deal with supporters in Barcelona – earlier than disappearing into the group in a “stunt of which Houdini would have been proud”, stated Politico.
Puigdemont has been based mostly in Brussels since 2017 after fleeing costs associated to organising Catalonia’s unauthorised independence referendum. On Wednesday, he introduced his intention to return to the regional parliament in Barcelona for the investiture of the brand new Catalan president the next day.
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Police arrange roadblocks round Ciutadella park, the place the parliament is situated, sealed off all however one entrance to the constructing, and even searched its sewers in an try to stop an look.
Nonetheless, Puigdemont emerged to deal with 1000’s of pro-independence supporters at a rally close to the parliament, wherein he stated: “Allow us to be clear, holding a referendum isn’t and can by no means be against the law.”
“We do not have the precise to provide in, the precise to self-determination belongs to the folks. Catalonia should be allowed to resolve its future.”
As he then proceeded in the direction of the parliament constructing, “surrounded by a hoop of distinguished separatist lawmakers and die-hard supporters”, Puigdemont “abruptly vanished” into the group, stated Politico.
Regardless of an enormous police manhunt to intercept him, together with establishing checkpoints in any respect main roads out of Barcelona and deploying officers to railway stations and airports throughout Catalonia, Puigdemont was in a position to evade seize.
“After a tumultuous 24 hours on the run, Mr Puigdemont is now again in Belgium,” the BBC reported, citing Collectively for Catalonia secretary basic Jordi Turull.
On Thursday afternoon, a member of Catalonia’s autonomous police drive was arrested on suspicion of offering the automobile used within the escape. A second serving officer has additionally reportedly been taken into custody on suspicion of aiding Puigdemont’s escape, with extra arrests stated to be within the pipeline.
A decide on Spain’s Supreme Court docket, Pablo Llarena, has ordered reviews from the Catalan police and the inside ministry to “perceive the elements that led to the ‘failure’ of the operation”, Catalan Information reported.
