Operation Anubis

The investigation started due a complaint presented by the far-right political party Vox and an anonymous complainant, in response to a claim from Catalan judge and politician Santiago Vidal assuring that preparations for the referendum were underway.{{cite news |last= Riart |first= Montse |date= 9 February 2017 |title= Un jutge de Barcelona obre una investigació per les declaracions de Santi Vidal |trans-title= A judge from Barcelona opens an investigation because the statements of Santi Vidal |url=http://www.ara.cat/politica/Barcelona-investigacio-declaracions-Santi-Vidal_0_1739226229.html |language= ca |work= Ara|location= Barcelona |access-date= 22 September 2017}} The investigation was assigned to the trial court number 13 of Barcelona, which had a conservative judge, Ramírez Sunyer, close to the General Council of the Judiciary. According to the defense, the assignment was against the rules and was done arbitrarily to get a hard anti-independence judge to investigate the case.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ara.cat/politica/Demanen-anullar-investigacio-designacio-arbitraria_0_2157384434.html|title=Denuncien que el jutge de l'1-O va assumir la causa de manera irregular|last1=Riart|first1=Montse|date=7 January 2019|work=Diari Ara|access-date=8 January 2019|last2=Serra|first2=Ot|language=ca}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ccma.cat/324/demanen-anullar-la-causa-del-jutjat-13-contra-el-proces-per-haver-la-atorgat-a-dit/noticia/2896360/|title=Demanen anul·lar la causa del jutjat 13 contra el procés per haver-la "atorgat a dit"|date=7 January 2019|work=3/24|access-date=8 January 2019|language=ca}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/Piden-anular-adjudico-obsesion-proces_0_854615034.html|title=Piden anular la causa del 1-O porque se adjudicó al juez por su "obsesión" con el procés|date=7 January 2019|work=ElDiario.es|access-date=8 January 2019|language=es}}

On 9 September, Spanish Civil Guard raided the headquarters of the weekly newspaper El Vallenc for being allegedly linked to the preparation of the independence referendum, about 200 people gathered in front of the building to support the journalists being investigated.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/la-guardia-civil-escorcolla-la-seu-del-setmanari-el-vallenc/|title=La Guàrdia Civil escorcolla la seu del setmanari El Vallenc i torna a l'empresa Constantí|date=9 September 2017|work=VilaWeb|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}} On the same day, the Civil Guard also raided the printing office Indugraf Offset in Constantí searching for ballots and material related to the Catalan referendum.

Over 45,000 notifications for the polling station members were confiscated on 19 September by the Civil Guard after raiding the offices of the posting service Unipost. Hundreds of protesters practiced nonviolent resistance sitting in front of the offices in order to block the access, delaying the action of the judicial committee for hours.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ara.cat/politica/Guardia-Civil-Unipost-lHospitalet-Llobregat_0_1872412811.html|title=Els Mossos desallotgen uns quants manifestants que bloquejaven la porta i el secretari judicial entra a Unipost|date=19 September 2017|work=Diari Ara|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/138653/escorcoll/unipost/terrassa/activa/actes/resistencia|title=L'escorcoll a Unipost de Terrassa activa els actes de resistència|date=19 September 2017|work=Nació Digital|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}}

Following a judge's orders, on the morning of 20 September 2017 several units of the Spanish Civil Guard raided 41 locations, including: the headquarters of the Vice President of Catalonia, the regional ministries of economy, foreign affairs, social affairs and family, the tax agency of Catalonia, the consortium of open administration of Catalonia, the Catalan Institute of Finance, the dotCAT Foundation, private houses of Catalan government officials and one printing company. Spanish officers claimed to have seized 9.6 million ballot papers in the raids.{{cite news |date= 20 September 2017|title= Catalonia referendum: Spain steps up raids to halt vote |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41331152 |work=BBC News |access-date= 22 September 2017}}{{cite news |last1= Strange |first1= Hannah |last2= Badcock |first2= James |date= 20 September 2017 |title= Anger in Barcelona after Spanish police arrest Catalan minister and 12 officials in raids over referendum |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/20/spanish-police-arrest-catalan-junior-economy-minister-morning/ |work= The Telegraph |location= Barcelona/Madrid |access-date= 22 September 2017}}

During these raids the Spanish Civil Guard arrested 14 people, most of them high-ranking members from the Generalitat of Catalonia, but also CEOs of private companies or just administrative staff.{{cite news |last1= Martínez |first1= Núria |last2= Moldes |first2= Aleix |date= 21 September 2017 |title= Qui són els 14 detinguts? |trans-title= Who are the 14 detainees? |url= http://www.ara.cat/politica/son-detinguts_0_1873612694.html |language= ca |work= Ara |location= Barcelona |access-date= 23 September 2017}}

After hours of watching it, officers of the National Police Corps circled the headquarters of the Popular Unity Candidacy party (CUP) at 1:00pm, in Casp street, Barcelona, but were prevented from searching inside by party members and supporters due to not having a court order. The party made several calls to the citizenship to "go to protect our headquarters" and organized a sit-in protest in order to block Spanish police access to their offices which gathered thousands of people.{{Cite news|url=https://www.elperiodico.cat/ca/politica/20170920/policia-no-aconsegueix-entrar-seu-cup-6299991|title=La Policia no aconsegueix entrar a la seu de la CUP|date=20 September 2017|work=El Periódico|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ara.cat/un-any-1-oprimers-detinguts-proces-20-setembre-2017_0_2091990846.html|title=20-S: els primers detinguts del Procés|last=Esteve|first=Mireia|date=20 September 2018|work=Diari Ara|access-date=20 September 2018|language=ca}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.ccma.cat/324/un-any-del-20s-una-operacio-policial-i-judicial-que-va-marcar-un-abans-i-un-despres/noticia/2876392/|title=Un any del 20S, una operació policial i judicial que va marcar un abans i un després|date=20 September 2018|work=324|access-date=20 September 2018|language=ca}} The police deployment lasted eight hours until they finally left without searching the building or arresting anyone.{{cite news |date= 20 September 2017 |title= La policia espanyola abandona la seu de la CUP vuit hores després sense haver-hi pogut entrar |trans-title= The Spanish police abandons the headquarters of the Popular Unity Candidacy after eight hours of waiting without being able to search it |url= https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/agents-de-la-policia-espanyola-envolten-la-seu-de-la-cup-a-barcelona/ |language= ca |work= Vilaweb |location= Barcelona |access-date= 22 September 2017}} David Fernàndez, member of CUP, defined the intend to enter their headquarters without a court order as a "flagrant crime against fundamental, civil and political rights".{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do5KQV5Qgow|title=20-S|date=11 July 2018|last=Roures|first=Jaume|type=Television production|publisher=Mediapro|access-date=3 July 2018}}

On the same day, the Spanish government announced that they were sending two ships to Barcelona and one to Tarragona to allocate Spanish police reinforcements deployed from other places of Spain. The first ship to arrive in Barcelona was the Rhapsody, from an Italian shipping company, followed by the MS Moby Dada, also Italian. The ship that docked in Tarragona was named GNV Azzurra. The three ships had a capacity of 6,600.{{cite news |last= Ortega |first= Maria |date= 20 September 2017 |title= El govern espanyol mobilitza tres "vaixells d'estat" als ports de Barcelona i Tarragona |trans-title= The Spanish government mobilises thrhee "State ships" in the sea ports of Barcelona and Tarragona |url= http://www.ara.cat/societat/Madrid-amarra-vaixell-Port-Barcelona_0_1873012798.html |language= ca |work= Ara |location= Barcelona |access-date= 22 September 2017}}{{cite news |date= 22 September 2017 |title= Spain is shipping in police to boost forces in Catalonia...on a Loony Tunes boat |url= https://www.thelocal.es/20170922/spain-is-shipping-in-police-to-boost-forces-in-catalonia-ahead-of-referendum |work= The Local |access-date= 22 September 2017}} Days later, these reinforcements tried to prevent the referendum on independence, injuring over [https://www.google.es/search?q=900+injured+catalan+referendum&oq=900+injured+catalan+refere&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j33l2.4327j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 900 voters] and panic scenes that were broadcast on news stations worldwide.

File:Operació Anubis a la Conselleria d'Economia.jpg

As the searches began, crowds spontaneously gathered outside the buildings being raided by the Spanish Civil Guard; namely the headquarters of the Department of Economy, in Rambla Catalunya, and the Department of External Affairs, in Via Laietana.{{Cite news|url=https://www.diaridegirona.cat/catalunya/2017/09/20/detencions-20-s/868561.html|title=20-S : Crònica del cop contra les institucions catalanes|date=21 September 2017|work=Diari de Girona|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.ccma.cat/tv3/alacarta/els-matins/susanna-barreda-tothom-sap-com-acabara-pero-ells-han-dexercir-la-seva-defensa/video/5787037/|title=Susanna Barreda: "Tothom sap com acabarà, però ells han d'exercir la seva defensa"|date=20 September 2018|work=TV3|access-date=20 September 2018|language=ca}}

Some minutes later, Òmnium Cultural and ANC called for a mobilization to avoid demonstrators being prosecuted given that Spanish Citizen's Security Law sets very high penalties for unauthorized demonstrations. Civil pro-independence organizations called for "peaceful resistance" in front of some of the buildings being searched. The Mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau also called all citizens to take the streets in protest for the raids.{{Cite news|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20170920/431426609465/ada-colau-anima-manifestaciones-defensa-autogobierno.html|title=Colau anima a manifestarse en defensa del autogobierno de Catalunya|last=Garcia|first=Luis|date=20 September 2018|work=La Vanguardia|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}} Soon after people started gathering in front of the Economy Department, crowds forced the closure of the Gran Via.{{cite news |last= Cardús |first= Pere |date= 20 September 2017 |title= Un dia que durarà anys: la independència ja és al carrer |trans-title= A day that will last years: the independence is in the streets |url= https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/un-dia-que-durara-anys-la-independencia-ja-es-al-carrer/ |language= ca |work= Vilaweb |location= Barcelona |access-date= 23 September 2017}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20170920/431423607531/tallades-la-gran-via-i-via-laietana-per-les-concentracions-a-davant-dels-departaments-deconomia-i-afers-exteriors.html|title=Tallades la Gran Via i Via Laietana per les concentracions a davant dels Departaments d'Economia i Afers Exteriors|date=20 September 2018|work=La Vanguardia|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}} According to several sources, at some moment there were more than 40,000 people in the demonstration in front of the Catalan economy department.{{cite news |last= Mowat |first= Laura |date= 21 September 2017 |title= Spain in CRISIS: Troops sent in as 40,000 protest over 'WAR' on Catalan independence vote |url= http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/857110/Catalan-vote-Spain-crisis-police-Madrid-protesters-Barcelona-activists |work= Express (newspaper) |access-date= 22 September 2017 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ara.cat/politica/Transcripco-Josep-Lluis-Trapero-Nacional_0_1889811197.html|title=Transcripció de la declaració de Josep Lluís Trapero a l'Audiència Nacional|date=18 October 2017|work=Diari Ara|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}} In the afternoon, various volunteers offered food and water to demonstrators.{{Cite news|url=https://beteve.cat/societat/centenars-persones-protesten-carrer-macrooperacio-guardia-civil/|title=Milers de persones protesten al carrer per la macrooperació de la Guàrdia Civil|last=Martínez|first=Guillem|date=20 September 2017|work=Betevé|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}} Several concerts were held in the junction between Rambla de Catalunya and Gran Via, like Companyia Elèctrica Dharma and Judit Neddermann as well as castells.{{Cite news|url=https://www.eltemps.cat/article/2198/lindependentisme-planta-cara-a-lestat-en-defensa-de-l1-o|title=L'independentisme planta cara a l'Estat en defensa de l'1-O|last=Puig|first=Xavier|date=21 September 2017|work=El Temps|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ara.cat/castells/mon-casteller-mobilitza-favor-1-O_0_1873012876.html|title=El món casteller es mobilitza a favor de l'1-O|last=Garcia|first=Efren|date=20 September 2017|work=Diari Ara|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}}

Even though the police operations were not notified in advance to the autonomous police force of Catalonia, Mossos d'Esquadra, as soon as people started gathering around the Catalan economy department, Civil Guard requested the intervention of Mossos.{{cite web|url=http://www.antena3.com/programas/espejo-publico/noticias/desvelan-las-6-llamadas-de-auxilio-de-la-guardia-civil-a-los-mossos_2017100659d744c70cf29f7c62db1481.html|title=Desvelan las 6 llamadas de auxilio de la Guardia Civil a los Mossos|website=Antena 3|access-date=10 October 2017|date=6 October 2017|language=es}} The Civil Guard agents involved in the raid made 6 calls for help to Mossos during the day. The first request for help was at 9:14 am with the subject: "Urgent - Request for support to Mossos" with the goal to force people to move 40 meters away from the building. Mossos did not intervene alleging that might cause public disorders and that the demonstration was being peaceful and authorized. Instead, ANC volunteers created a human corridor so the access to the building would not get blocked.{{Cite news|url=http://www.publico.es/politica/catalunya-20-s-documental-desmonta-version-llarena-hechos-encarcelaron-jordis.html|title='20 -S ', el documental que desmonta la versión de Llarena sobre los hechos por los que encarcelaron a los Jordis|last=Font|first=Marc|date=26 May 2018|work=Público|access-date=3 July 2018|language=es}} Workers of the Department of Economy hung Catalan and European Union flags in the balconies of the building as long as the raid lasted.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rac1.cat/programes/el-mon/20170920/431422637792/centenars-de-persones-es-concentren-davant-les-conselleries-deconomia-i-dexteriors.html|title=Milers de persones es concentren davant del Departament d'Economia de la Generalitat|date=21 September 2017|work=RAC1|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}} Mossos alleged they were not notified in advance about the raids, so they couldn't prepare a police operation to keep demonstrators far from the building. At midday, the Civil Guard notified Mossos they would end the registries around 20.15, but later stated they would be delayed for hours due to computer problems. Mossos considered there was a situation of risk, but discarded using crowd-controls units until later in the night when most demonstrators already left.{{Cite news|url=http://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-mossos-reconocen-20-hubo-riesgo-ello-secretaria-judicial-salio-azotea-20180227170710.html|title=Mossos reconocen que el 20-S hubo riesgo y por ello la secretaria judicial salió por azotea|date=27 February 2018|work=Europa Press|access-date=3 July 2018|language=es}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ara.cat/en/The-interlocutory-decree-Sanchez-Cuixart_0_1891011018.html|title=The bias of the interlocutory decree that sent Sànchez and Cuixart to prison|last=Orriols|first=Núria|date=19 October 2017|work=Ara|access-date=7 April 2019}}

According to the court clerk, she remained trapped until midnight inside the building and had to flee by the roof terrace, while several agents were trapped throughout the night as demonstrators shouted outside "You won't get out!" and "They shall not pass".{{cite news|last=Hannah|first=Strange|date=16 October 2017|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/16/two-catalan-independence-leaders-taken-custody-spanish-government/|title=Two Catalan independence leaders taken into custody by Spanish national court|work=The Telegraph|location=Barcelona}}{{cite news|last=Badcock|first=James|date=4 October 2017|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/04/catalonias-police-chief-faces-sedition-charge-protest-reaction/|title=Catalonia's police chief faces sedition charge for 'allegedly failing to follow orders' ahead of referendum|work=The Telegraph|location=Madrid}}{{cite news|last=Pinheiro|first=Marcos|url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Sanchez-Cuixart-actuaron-Guardia-Civil_0_698180621.html|title=Las claves del auto de Sànchez y Cuixart: actuaron contra la Guardia Civil para "proteger" a altos cargos|date=17 October 2017|language=es|work=eldiario.es}}{{cite news|date=22 September 2017|url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Fiscalia-Audiencia-Nacional-Guardia-Civil_0_689431648.html|title=La Fiscalía denuncia por sedición en la Audiencia Nacional los incidentes de Barcelona tras las detenciones|language=es|work=eldiario.es}}{{cite web|url=https://www.elespanol.com/espana/tribunales/20171014/254225123_0.html|title=El testimonio que puede llevar a prisión a Trapero: "Sentí terror y humillación"|date=15 October 2017|publisher=El Español|access-date=27 October 2017|language=es}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.elperiodico.cat/ca/politica/20170920/concentracio-departament-economia-guardia-civil-referendum-6298110|title=Els manifestants, a la Guàrdia Civil: "Aquesta nit la passareu aquí"|last=Sànchez|first=Guillem|date=20 September 2017|work=El Periódico|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}} The solution to leave through the roof terrace of the neighbouring building was proposed by Mossos after the court clerk rejected to use the human corridor created by the police.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ara.cat/judici-presos-politics-1-octubre/secretaria-judicial-20S-salt-mur_0_2186181406.html|title=El pati d'illa més controvertit: així va sortir la lletrada el 20-S|last1=Orriols|first1=Núria|date=23 February 2019|work=Diari Ara|access-date=24 February 2019|last2=Roger|first2=Maiol|language=ca}} Civil Guard stayed inside the building until the demonstration was called off and Mossos cleared the zone, so they could get access to the three cars that were parked in front of the Catalan economy department.{{Cite news|url=https://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/138745/guardies/civils/surten/economia/amb/ajuda/dels/mossos/despr/20/hores/setge|title=Guàrdies civils surten d'Economia amb l'ajuda dels Mossos després de 20 hores de setge|date=21 September 2017|work=Nació Digital|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}} Those cars were damaged by journalists in the morning and later vandalized up by demonstrators.{{Cite news|url=https://diario16.com/un-agente-reconoce-en-su-declaracion-como-testigo-haber-reventado-los-cristales-del-vehiculo-de-la-guardia-civil/|title=Un agente reconoce en su declaración como testigo haber reventado los cristales del vehículo de la Guardia Civil|last=Talegon|first=Bea|date=25 March 2019|work=Diario 16|access-date=31 May 2019|language=es}} According to the Civil Guard, the damages in the vehicles (3 Nissan Patrol) accounted for 135,632 €.{{Cite web|work=Heraldo.es|url=http://www.heraldo.es/noticias/nacional/2017/10/10/reparar-los-vehiculos-guardia-civil-destrozados-barcelona-costo-135-632-euros-1201167-305.html|date=2017-10-10|title=Reparar los vehículos de la Guardia Civil destrozados en Barcelona costó 135.632 euros}}

Civil Guard officers left unguarded weapons and ammunition inside the cars, which were left with the doors unlocked and were later surrounded by demonstrators. The Mossos were not informed that the cars contained weapons until the afternoon, at that point, the Mossos used a helicopter to verify that no demonstrator entered inside the cars.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/la-guardia-civil-va-trigar-cinc-hores-a-avisar-que-hi-havia-armes-dins-dels-cotxes-davant-deconomia/|title=La Guàrdia Civil va trigar cinc hores a avisar que hi havia armes dins els cotxes que eren davant Economia|date=18 October 2017|work=VilaWeb|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}} Eventually, the leaders of ANC and Òmnium, Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart, were notified there were weapons inside the cars too. At that point, ANC volunteers expanded the human corridor and left the cars inside the corridor, so demonstrators had no access to them. An investigation from the newspaper El Món in 2019, reported that none of the Civil Guard officers that left unguarded weapons inside the cars was sanctioned by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior.{{Cite news|url=https://elmon.cat/politica/interior-no-ni-expedientar-guardies-civils-que-20s-deixar-armes-ma-dels-concentrats|title=Interior no va ni expedientar els Guàrdies Civils que el 20S van deixar les armes a mà dels concentrats|last=Sallés|first=Quico|date=3 February 2019|work=El Món|access-date=4 February 2019|language=ca}}

Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart —leaders of ANC and Òmnium Cultural— and the Mossos d'Esquadra Major Josep Lluís Trapero Álvarez have been accused of sedition, a felony regulated by the article 544 and subsequents of the Spanish Criminal Code, for allegedly encouraging protesters to hinder the Spanish police raids to dismantle the framework of the referendum. Sànchez and Cuixart have been provisionally put into jail without bail pending the investigation.

Besides the demonstration in Barcelona, multiple protests took place in other cities across Catalonia; including cacerolazo during the night. Several Spanish cities also organised demonstrations against the police operations.{{cite news |title= Mapa convocatorias protesta contra la detención de los 14 cargos de la Generalitat |url= http://www.publico.es/pages/mapa-convocatorias-protesta-detencion-14-cargos-generalitat.html |work= El público |access-date= 23 September 2017}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.ccma.cat/324/concentracions-davant-dels-ajuntaments-contra-loperacio-policial/noticia/2810015/|title=Les concentracions arreu de Catalunya en protesta per l'operació policial contra l'1-O|date=20 September 2017|work=3/24|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/138724/consulta/llistat/concentracions/defensa/llibertats|title=Consulta el llistat de concentracions en defensa de les llibertats|date=20 September 2017|work=Nació Digital|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}}

In Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona an audience at the representation of Il Viaggio a Reims sang the Catalan anthem, Els Segadors, and shouted pro-Catalan independence slogans.{{cite news |editor= ACN |date= 21 September 2017|title= El Liceu entona 'Els Segadors' i crida 'Votarem' abans de la representació d'aquest dimecres al vespre |trans-title= Liceu audience sang "Els segadors" and shouted "we are going to vote" before the representation of this Wednesday |url= http://www.elpuntavui.cat/politica/article/17-politica/1243922-el-liceu-entona-els-segadors-i-crida-votarem-abans-de-la-representacio-d-aquest-dimecres-al-vespre.html |language= ca |work= El Punt Avui |location= Barcelona |access-date= 23 September 2017 }}

Dozens of Catalan organizations and entities condemned the jailing of Catalan officials and made calls to respect "democracy and freedom of speech" in Catalonia and asked all citizens to "defend Catalan institutions". Those entities included all Catalan public universities (UB, UAB, UdG, UPF, UdL, URV, UPC, UOC), the biggest Catalan workers and students unions including CCOO and UGT, sport clubs like FC Barcelona and Girona FC, more than 20 professional associations, the Confederation of Neighborhood Associations of Catalonia, NGO's like FundiPau, music festivals like Primavera Sound and cultural organizations like Fundació Antoni Tàpies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ara.cat/politica/Sindicats-entitats-societat-catalans-Govern_0_1873012838.html|title=Sindicats i entitats de la societat civil donen suport al Govern|last=Solé|first=Albert|date=20 September 2017|work=Diari Ara|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/138715/primavera/sound/es/mulla/favor/institucions/pais|title=Primavera Sound es mulla a favor de les institucions del país|date=20 September 2017|work=Nació Digital|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}}

Carles Puigdemont, President of Catalonia, described the raids as a "de facto suspension of Catalonia's self-rule".{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/20/spain-guardia-civil-raid-catalan-government-hq-referendum-row|title=Spain crisis: 'stop this radicalism and disobedience,' PM tells Catalan leaders|date=21 September 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=9 August 2018}} Ada Colau, Mayor of Barcelona, called the raids "a democratic scandal". Xavier Domènech, from En Comú Podem expressed "all red lines have been crossed".{{Cite news|url=https://www.ara.cat/politica/ERC-PDECat-Congres-Guardia-Civil_0_1873012793.html|title=ERC, PDECat i En Comú Podem abandonen el Congrés amb indignació per l'operació de la Guàrdia Civil|last=Serra|first=Ot|date=20 September 2017|work=Diari Ara|access-date=4 July 2018|language=ca}} Pablo Iglesias, leader of Spanish Podemos, defined the arrested officials as "political prisoners". Dimitrios Papadimoulis MEP considered the situation was a "very worrying drift" for Spain. Mónica Oltra, co-spokesperson of Valencian Compromís, defined it as "forbidding acts of freedom of expression".

That day, En Comú Podem, ERC and PDeCAT walked out from Spanish Congress as a protest against the police operation.

File:Manifestation in favor of the right to decide in Catalonia.jpg|Demonstration in front of the Department of Economy in Barcelona

File:20S Berga1.jpg|Demonstration in Berga

File:Mani 20S València (5).jpg|Demonstration in València

On 21 September 2017, the President of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, publicly announced on Twitter the referendum information webpage had been re-uploaded and gave polling station information and directions. The previous webpage shut down six days after launching, after being declared illegal in court.{{cite news |last1= Rolfe |first1= Pamela |last2= McAuley |first2= James |date= 23 September 2017 |title= As Catalan independence vote nears, Europe supports keeping Spain intact |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/as-catalan-independence-vote-nears-europe-supports-keeping-spain-intact/2017/09/22/c8b0affe-9edc-11e7-b2a7-bc70b6f98089_story.html |location= Madrid |access-date= 24 September 2017}}{{cite news |last= Sallès |first= Quico |date= 21 September 2017 |title= El Govern activa la web para saber dónde votar el 1-O |trans-title= Catalan government activates webpage to know where to vote on 1 October |url= http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20170921/431449229074/govern-referendum-censo-colegios-electorales-donde-votar.html |language= es |work= La Vanguardia |location= Barcelona |access-date= 24 September 2017}}

File:21 Setembre Arc Triomf.jpg in support of individuals arrested by during police raids.]]

The Catalan National Assembly and Òmnium Cultural organised a demonstration in Passeig de Lluís Companys in front of the High Court of Justice of Catalonia calling for the release of those, while carrying signs reading "Stop dictatorship" and "We want to vote".{{cite news |editor= News agencies |date= 22 September 2017 |title=Separatist supporters mass outside Barcelona top court |url= http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/separatist-supporters-mass-barcelona-top-court-170921105242786.html |work= Al Jazeera |location= Catalonia |access-date= 23 September 2017}} During the demonstrations several politicians and public figures spoke and asked the people to continue in permanent mobilisation to defend the institutions of Catalonia.{{cite news |editor= Redacció |date= 21 September 2017 |title= Milers de persones clamen per l'allibertament dels detinguts |trans-title= Thousands of people demand freedom for the arrested |url= https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/la-societat-civil-resisteix-al-cop-destat-contra-la-generalitat-independencia-guardia-civil-referendum-assalt-conselleria-economia-junqueras-detinguts-anc-omnium/ |language= ca |work= VilaWeb |location= Barcelona |access-date= 23 September 2017}}{{cite news |last= Keeley |first= Graham |date= 21 September 2017 |title= Catalonia: nationalists call for permanent street protests to ensure independence referendum |url= https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/catalonia-nationalists-call-for-permanent-street-protests-to-ensure-independence-referendum-75k5g9vg3 |work= The Times |location= Barcelona |access-date= 23 September 2017}}

On the same day, the stevedores and dockworkers of the Port of Barcelona and Port of Tarragona refused to work for the ships that housed the Spanish police after a trade union vote that morning.{{cite news |date= 21 September 2017 |title= Barcelona dockworkers refuse to operate police ship sent to thwart referendum |url= http://www.news4europe.eu/6350_world/4819088_barcelona-dockworkers-refuse-to-operate-police-ship-sent-to-thwart-referendum.html |work= News4Europe |location= Barcelona |access-date= 23 September 2017}}{{cite news |date= 21 September 2017 |title= Barcelona Dockworkers Refuse to Operate Police Ship Sent to Thwart Referendum |url= http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2443620&CategoryId=12395 |work= Latin American Herald Tribune |location= Barcelona |access-date= 23 September 2017}}

University students in some areas abandoned their classes and disrupted traffic on Avinguda Diagonal and joined demonstrations in front of the High Court of Justice of Catalonia. In a separate protest by students traffic on Gran Via, at the old building of the University of Barcelona, was disrupted.{{cite news |last= Santasusagna |first= Adrià |date= 21 September 2017|title= Milers de persones concentrades al TSJ per reclamar l'alliberament dels detinguts |trans-title= Thousands of people demonstrate in front of the High Court of Justice of Catalonia demanding freedom for the arrested |url= http://www.rac1.cat/info-rac1/20170921/431444266802/milers-de-persones-concentrades-al-tsj-per-reclamar-lalliberament-dels-detinguts.html |language= ca |work= RAC1|location= Barcelona |access-date= 23 September 2017}}

File:Un centenar de persones en suport a la Guàrdia Civil davant la caserna de Travessera de Gràcia (2017-09-21).webm

In front of the headquarters of the Spanish Civil Guard in Passeig de Gràcia a demonstration of 150 people shouted slogans in favour of the police operation, in favour of remaining unified with Spain, or against the independence referendum. During the demonstration there were clashes with the Mossos d'Esquadra when the protesters tried to stop the traffic.{{cite news |editor= ACN |date= 21 September 2017 |title= Més de 150 persones es manifesten a favor de la Guàrdia Civil a la caserna de Travessera de Gràcia |trans-title= More than 150 people demonstrate in favour of the Spanish Civil Guard in the headquarters in Gracia |url= http://elmon.cat/noticia/232668/mes-150-persones-manifesten-favor-guardia-civil-caserna-travessera-gracia |language= ca |work= El Món |location= Barcelona |access-date= 23 September 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170921193639/http://elmon.cat/noticia/232668/mes-150-persones-manifesten-favor-guardia-civil-caserna-travessera-gracia |archive-date= 21 September 2017 |url-status= dead }}

An open letter from several members of all parties in the UK parliament expressed their concern "by the measures taken by the Spanish government to prevent the referendum".{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/21/spains-dangerous-bid-to-block-catalan-vote|title=Spain and the Catalan referendum {{!}} Letters|last=Letters|date=2017-09-21|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-09-25|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} An additional open letter from over a hundred academics of law, human rights and related subjects from the UK and Ireland expressed the same level of concern about the fact "that the level of political repression in Catalonia is of a severity and arbitrary character not experienced since the Franco dictatorship". The Regional Council of Sardinia also unanimously approved a motion on 21 September 2017 expressing solidarity with Catalonia and offering to print and store the necessary ballots for the referendum while asking the international community to intervene and ensure that Catalans could vote and decide on their self-determination.{{cite news |date= 22 September 2017 |title= Sardenya s'ofereix a la Generalitat per facilitar el material del referèndum |trans-title= Sardinia offers to provide referendum material to Generalitat of Catalonia |url= https://dbalears.cat/horitzons/2017/09/22/306223/sardenya-ofereix-generalitat-per-facilitar-material-del-referendum.html |language= ca |work= Diari de Balears |location= Balearic Islands |access-date= 23 September 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.ansa.it/sardegna/notizie/2017/09/22/catalogna-sit-in-indipendentisti-sardi_9b144a29-4f2d-4e73-b17b-a9bbdd11dc25.html|title=Referendum Catalogna: sit-in indipendentisti sardi a Cagliari|date=22 September 2017|work=Sardinia Post|access-date=23 September 2017|location=Sardinia|language=it|trans-title=Catalonia referendum: Sardinian independents sit in Cagliari}}

On Friday 22 September, Spanish State Attorney General's office filed a complaint for sedition against the leaders of Catalan National Assembly and Òmnium Cultural, Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart, accused of having played central roles in orchestrating massive protests aimed at hindering Civil Guard activity.{{cite news|last=Fotheringham|first=Alasdair|date=16 October 2017|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/catalonia-independence-leaders-jailed-spain-judge-sedition-jordi-sanchez-jordi-cuixart-latest-news-a8004001.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/catalonia-independence-leaders-jailed-spain-judge-sedition-jordi-sanchez-jordi-cuixart-latest-news-a8004001.html |archive-date=2022-05-24 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Catalonia: Spanish judge jails two independence leaders for possible sedition|work=The Independent|location=Madrid|access-date=20 October 2017}}{{cite news|last=Hannah|first=Strange|date=16 October 2017|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/16/two-catalan-independence-leaders-taken-custody-spanish-government/|title=Two Catalan independence leaders taken into custody by Spanish national court|work=The Telegraph|location=Barcelona|access-date=20 October 2017}}{{cite news|date=17 October 2017|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/17/madrid-jails-catalan-separatist-leaders-jordi-cuixart-and-jordi-sanchez-pending-investigation|title=Spain High Court jails Catalan separatist leaders pending investigation|work=The Guardian|location=Madrid|access-date=20 October 2017}}

This offence can be punished with sentences of up to 15 years of prison.{{cite news|date= 23 September 2017 |title= The office of the Prosecutor of the National court a complaint for sedition by the riots of Barcelona |url= http://www.turkeytelegraph.com/politics/the-office-of-the-prosecutor-of-the-national-court-a-complaint-for-sedition-by-the-riots-of-barcelona-h2460.html |work= Turkey Telegraph |access-date= 24 September 2017}}{{cite news |last= Manresa |first= Júlia |date= 22 September 2017|title= La Fiscalia de l'Audiència Nacional denuncia les mobilitzacions del 20 de setembre per sedició |trans-title= State Attorney General's office complaints the demonstrations of 20 September for sedition |url= http://www.ara.cat/politica/Fiscalia-lAudiencia-Nacional-mobilitzacions-Catalunya_0_1874212729.html |language= ca |work= Ara |location= Barcelona |access-date= 24 September 2017}} The investigating judge stated that the leaders did not call for "peaceful demonstration but to the protection of Catalan officials through 'massive citizens' mobilisations"{{cite web|url=https://www.elespanol.com/espana/tribunales/20171016/254725689_0.html|title=Los 'Jordis' a prisión por "alentar a la masa" contra la Guardia Civil el 20-S|date=16 October 2017|publisher=El Español|access-date=21 October 2017|language=es}} and that Jordi Sànchez, on top of a vehicle, encouraged the demonstrators with expressions such as "no one goes home, it will be a long and intense night". According to the judge the actions of Sànchez and Cruixat are within the scope of sedition, a felony regulated by the article 544 and subsequents of the Spanish Criminal Code:{{cite web|url=http://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20171017/delito-sedicion-que-es-codigo-penal-6344514|title=¿Qué es el delito de sedición? Así lo regula el Código Penal|date=17 October 2017|publisher=El Periódico|access-date=27 October 2017|language=es}}

{{blockquote|Conviction for sedition shall befall those who, without being included in the felony of rebellion, public and tumultuously rise up to prevent, by force or outside the legal channels, application of the laws, or any authority, official corporation or public officer from lawful exercise of the duties thereof or implementation of the resolutions thereof, or of administrative or judicial resolutions.|source=Article 544 of the Spanish Criminal Code.{{cite act |title=Criminal Code Organic Law of 1995 |type=Organic Law |number=10 |work=Official State Gazette |language=es |date=November 23, 1995 |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1995-25444 |access-date=28 October 2017}}}}

File:El moviment estudiantil ocupa el rectorat de la UB en defensa de la democràcia i el referèndum.png.]]

Footage from that night shows Cuixart and Sànchez at 11pm calling off the protests, contradicting the part where the judicial order imprisoning them says that "they did not use at any time the control they had over the people to call off the demonstration they had summoned".{{Cite news|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20171017/432142495111/video-jordi-cuixart-jordi-sanchez-disolver-manifestacion-economia.html|title=Un vídeo muestra cómo Cuixart y Sànchez intentaron disolver la manifestación de Economia|work=La Vanguardia|access-date=2017-10-18}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/article/i-ll-serve-life-in-jail-if-i-must-vows-catalan-martyr-j2lfx3nh8|title=I'll serve life in jail if I must, vows Catalan 'martyr', Jordi Cuixart|last=Campbell|first=Matthew|date=21 October 2018|work=The Times|access-date=24 October 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.ccma.cat/324/els-videos-de-sanchez-i-cuixart-el-20s-contra-els-arguments-per-empresonar-los/noticia/2815471/|title=Els vídeos de Sànchez i Cuixart el 20-S contra els arguments per empresonar-los|date=17 October 2017|work=3/24|access-date=3 July 2018|language=ca}}

Pro-referendum students from the University of Barcelona occupied the historical building of the university, which is currently used by the faculties of mathematics and philology.{{cite news |editor= Associated Press |date= 23 September 2017 |title= Students occupy Barcelona university in support of secession |url= https://www.foxnews.com/world/students-occupy-barcelona-university-in-support-of-secession/ |work= Fox News |location= Barcelona |access-date= 24 September 2017}} In Girona, Tarragona and Lleida there were more student demonstrations in defence of democracy organised by the local Universities.{{cite news |editor= Redacció |date= 22 September 2017|title= Els universitaris ocupen l'edifici històric de la UB en suport del referèndum |trans-title= University students occupy the historical building of the University of Barcelona to support the referendum |url= http://www.ccma.cat/324/els-universitaris-catalans-tornen-a-mobilitzar-se-en-suport-del-referendum/noticia/2810321/ |language= ca |work= Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals |location= Barcelona |access-date= 24 September 2017}}

Later that day, the trial court number 13 finally released all the remaining politicians arrested on 20 September 2017. They were freed being charged with disobedience to the Constitutional Court, perverting the course of justice and embezzlement of public funds but were not accused of sedition.{{cite news |last1= Piulachs |first1= M |last2= Pérez |first2= V|date= 23 September 2017 |title= Tots els detinguts, lliures |trans-title= All detainees free |url= http://www.elpuntavui.cat/politica/article/17-politica/1245478-tots-els-detinguts-lliures.html |language= ca |work= El Punt Avui |location= Barcelona |access-date= 23 September 2017}}{{cite news |date= 22 September 2017 |title= All Catalan officials arrested over referendum released with charges |url= http://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/all-catalan-officials-arrested-over-referendum-released-with-charges |work= Catalan News Agency |location= Barcelona |access-date= 23 September 2017}} Even though they were released, due to a public prosecutor petition, they will have to appear before the court every week while the probe continues. Around 2,000 people were waiting outside and received them with slogans and chants. At 6pm a new demonstration in front of the High Court of Justice was organised to celebrate their release.{{cite news |editor= AFP |date= 22 September 2017|title= Protests in Catalonia over crackdown on banned independence vote |url= http://www.france24.com/en/20170922-protests-catalonia-over-crackdown-banned-independence-vote |work= France24 |location= Barcelona |access-date= 24 September 2017}}

In the days previous to the referendum, more than 140 websites were shut down by the Spanish justice and police, including the official one from the Catalan government with information about the referendum and dozens of clones made after the first one was blocked. The main site of the biggest civil organization which supports independence, Assemblea Nacional Catalana, was also blocked. In some cases, only a judiciary request was sent but in some others Guardia Civil was sent to major Spanish telecom operators offices, domain providers, the dotCat Foundation and Google, in this particular case to remove an app from Google Play which included information about the polling stations.{{cite web|url=https://www.internetsociety.org/news/statements/2017/internet-society-statement-internet-blocking-measures-catalonia-spain/|title=Internet Society statement on Internet blocking measures in Catalonia, Spain|date=21 September 2017|publisher=Internet Society|access-date=17 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.europapress.es/catalunya/noticia-guardia-civil-ordeno-cdmon-17-horas-cerrar-web-20170913215844.html|title=La Guardia Civil ordenó a CDMON sobre las 17 horas cerrar la web del 1-O|date=13 September 2017|publisher=Europa Press|access-date=17 April 2018|language=es-ES}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20170929/431632205197/tsjc-google-app-referendum-1o.html|title=El TSJC ordena a Google retirar la app que informa sobre cómo y dónde votar el 1-O difundida por Puigdemont|date=30 September 2017|publisher=La Vanguardia|access-date=17 April 2018|language=es-ES}} This situation was defined as "censorship" by many and was denounced by Internet-related organizations from around the world including Internet Society, APC, EFF, The Tor Project and Xnet.{{cite web|url=https://www.apc.org/en/pubs/apc-calls-end-restrictions-freedom-expression-catalonia|title=APC calls for an end to restrictions on freedom of expression in Catalonia|date=September 2017|publisher=Association for Progressive Communications|access-date=17 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/10/no-justification-spanish-internet-censorship-during-catalonian-referendum|title=No Justification for Spanish Internet Censorship During Catalonian Referendum|date=2 October 2017|publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation|access-date=17 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://ooni.torproject.org/post/internet-censorship-catalonia-independence-referendum/|title=Evidence of Internet Censorship during Catalonia's Independence Referendum|date=3 October 2017|publisher=The Tor Project, Inc|access-date=17 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://xnet-x.net/en/digital-repression-and-resistance-catalan-referendum/|title=Digital repression and resistance during the #CatalanReferendum|date=4 October 2017|publisher=Xnet|access-date=17 April 2018}}

Finally, on October 16 both Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez were imprisoned accused of sedition and sent to Soto del Real Prison.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20171017/432132340676/sanchez-cuixart-soto-del-real-prision-anc-omnium.html|title=Sànchez y Cuixart se disponen a pasar su primera noche en prisión|date=17 October 2017|work=La Vanguardia|access-date=6 December 2018|language=es}}

Both Mossos d'Esquadra Major Josep Lluís Trapero Álvarez and Barcelona Intendant Teresa Laplana Cocera were also charged with sedition because of the role played by the regional police.{{Cite web|url=http://cadenaser.com/ser/2017/10/16/tribunales/1508135060_744591.html|publisher=Cadena Ser|title=La jueza deja en libertad al mayor Trapero pero le impone medidas cautelares|date=2017-10-16}}

Amnesty International issued an official statement considering the charge of sedition and the preventive imprisonment "excessive" and called for their immediate release.{{Cite news|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur41/7308/2017/en/|title=Spain: charges for sedition and pre-trial detention against Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez are excessive|work=Amnesty International|access-date=2017-10-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty-international.be/nieuws/spanje-recente-ontwikkelingen-in-catalonie|title=Spanje: recente ontwikkelingen in Catalonië|publisher=Amnesty International|access-date=28 March 2018}}

On 7 March 2018, the High Commissioner of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reminded Spanish authorities that "pre-trial detention should be considered a measure of last resort" in reference, between others, to Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez.{{cite news |title=High Commissioner's global update of human rights concerns |url=http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22772&LangID=E |work=OHCHR |date=2018-03-07 |access-date=2018-03-08 }}

In July 2018, several international personalities including Jody Williams, Noam Chomsky, Angela Davis, Ben Emmerson, Bill Shipsey and Martín Caparrós joined in a video produced by Òmnium and demanded the release of the Catalan leaders.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rac1.cat/programes/el-mon/20180717/45944954452/chomsky-guardiola-i-altres-veus-internacionals-demanen-la-llibertat-dels-politics-catalans-a-la-preso.html|title=Chomsky, Guardiola i altres veus internacionals demanen la llibertat dels polítics catalans a la presó|date=19 July 2018|work=RAC1|access-date=19 August 2018|language=ca}}

On 8 August 2018, PEN International made another statement asking Spanish authorities to release Cuixart and Sànchez and considered their detentions to be "an excessive and disproportionate restriction on their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly".{{Cite news|url=https://pen-international.org/news/statement-following-pen-internationals-visit-to-imprisoned-catalan-civil-society-leaders|title=Statement following PEN International's visit to imprisoned Catalan civil society leaders|date=8 August 2018|work=PEN International|access-date=9 August 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://elmon.cat/politica/pen-internacional-diu-que-lempresonament-cuixart-sanchez-excessiu-desproporcionat|title=El PEN Internacional diu que l'empresonament de Cuixart i Sánchez és "excessiu"|date=9 August 2018|work=El Món|access-date=9 August 2018|language=ca}}

The World Organisation Against Torture sent an open letter to the President of the Government of Spain Pedro Sánchez as well as the Spanish Attorney General and Spanish Ombudsman on 22 November 2018 demanding the end of the "arbitrary pre-trial detention and judicial harassment of Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez" and concluded "OMCT considers that the charges against them are unfounded and must therefore be dropped."{{Cite news|url=http://www.omct.org/monitoring-protection-mechanisms/urgent-interventions/spain/2018/11/d25127/|title=Spain: Open Letter: End the arbitrary pre-trial detention of social leader Mr. Jordi Cuixart|date=22 November 2018|work=World Organisation Against Torture|access-date=22 November 2018|publication-place=Geneva}}

After Sànchez and Cuixart were sentenced to a nine-year sentence, Amnesty International reiterated his petition to immediately release them and denounced that the "vague" and "overly broad" interpretation of sedition done by the Spanish Supreme Court could have negative effects on the freedom of protest in Spain.

• 2014 Catalan self-determination referendum
• Declaration of the Initiation of the Process of Independence of Catalonia
• National Day for Yes

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• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41331152 Article on BBC: Catalonia referendum: Spain steps up raids to halt vote]

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