Two prominent Catalan independence leaders were on Monday night sent to prison by Spain's National Court while they are investigated for alleged crimes of sedition

Jordi Sanchez of the Catalan National Assembly, and Jordi Cuixart of Omnium Cultural are being investigated for their role in protests against police in the run up to the banned independence vote.

The two men have been accused of leading a tense night of protests in Barcelona on September 20, as police carried out sweeping raids and arrested several Catalan officials.