Spain has jailed nine Catalan separatist politicians over a failed 2017 declaration of independence for Catalonia.

The country’s supreme court on Monday sentenced the leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison after finding them guilty of sedition.

Three other politicians were found guilty only of disobedience and did not receive jail sentences.

The longest prison sentence of 13 years went to former Catalan deputy leader Oriol Junqueras. Four of the politicians were also convicted of misuse of public funds.

Supporters of independence have previously pledged to launch a campaign of civil disobedience and protest if any of the leaders were found guilty.

Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed Show all 20 1 /20 Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed Mossos d'Esquadra Catalan police officers clash with demonstrators during the rally called by the group called 'Tsunami Democratic' (Democratic Tsunami) in Barcelona, 14 October EPA Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed Catalunya Square Several thousand people gather at Catalunya Square to protest against the sentence ruled by Supreme Court on 'proces' trial', in Barcelona, Catalonia, 14 October 2019. Demonstrators are blocking some roads in Catalan capital against the court's decision. Spanish Supreme Court condemned Oriol Junqueras to 13 years in jail for sedition, Carme Forcadell to 11 years and half for sedition; Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez were sentenced to 9 years and half for sedition; former regional Minister Jordi Turull, Raul Romeva and Dolors Bassa were sentenced to 12 years in jail for sedition and missapropriation, and Joaquin Forn and Josep Rull were condenmend 10 years an half for sedition. The three other defendants were absolved. EPA Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed People block the railway track of the high speed train AVE to protest against the sentence EPA Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed Protesters clash with policemen on the highway leading to El Prat airport AFP/Getty Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed TOPSHOT - Protesters clash with Spanish policemen outside El Prat airport in Barcelona on October 14, 2019 as thousands of angry protesters took to the streets after Spain's Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in jail for sedition over the failed 2017 independence bid. - As the news broke, demonstrators turned out en masse, blocking streets in Barcelona and elsewhere as police braced for what activists said would be a mass response of civil disobedience. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images) LLUIS GENE AFP/Getty Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed People wearing yellow ribbons in support of jailed pro-independence politicians in Barcelona AP Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed People block the railway track EPA Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed An Estelada pro-independence flag is waved among protestors at El Prat airport AP Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed Thousands block the Barcelona Airport access Getty Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed A protester demonstrates outside the venue where Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont held a news conference in Brussels Reuters Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed People demand the release of Catalan pro-independence leaders during a protest outside the Sants railway station in Barcelona EPA Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed Thousands of people protest in front of Generalitat local office in Gerona, Catalonia EPA Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed Protesters hold a banner reading "Free political prisoners" AFP/Getty Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed El Prat airport A protester holds a Catalan pro-independence "Estelada" flag surrounded by other protesters at El Prat airport in Barcelona on October 14, 2019 as thousands took to the streets after Spain's Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in jail for sedition over the failed 2017 independence bid. - As the news broke, demonstrators turned out en masse, blocking streets in Barcelona and elsewhere as police braced for what activists said would be a mass response of civil disobedience. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images) LLUIS GENE AFP/Getty Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed El Prat airport Catalan regional police officers grab a protester AFP/Getty Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed Barcelona A woman shouts holding a banner reading "Free political prisoners" AFP/Getty Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed El Prat airport Police officers stand by a doorway as protestors sit down blocking access to the airport AP Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed Protestors crowd a street in Barcelona AP Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed Catalunya Square epa07919903 Some thousand people gather at Catalunya Square to protest against the sentence ruled by Supreme Court on 'proces' trial', in Barcelona, Catalonia, 14 October 2019. Demonstrators are blocking some roads in Catalan capital against the court's decision. Spanish Supreme Court condemned Oriol Junqueras to 13 years in jail for sedition, Carme Forcadell to 11 years and half for sedition; Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez were sentenced to 9 years and half for sedition; former regional Minister Jordi Turull, Raul Romeva and Dolors Bassa were sentenced to 12 years in jail for sedition and missapropriation, and Joaquin Forn and Josep Rull were condenmend 10 years an half for sedition. The three other defendants were absolved. EPA/Marta Perez Marta Perez EPA Thousands take to streets after Catalan separatist leaders jailed A woman holds placards depecting pictured of jailed Catalan separatist leaders Jordi Turull and Carme Forcadell AFP/Getty

Reacting to the sentences, the high-profile former head of Catalonia’s regional government Carles Puigdemont said that the decision was an “atrocity”.

“It is time to react,” he said. “For the future of our sons and daughters. For democracy. For Europe. For Catalonia.”

Mr Puigdemont was not covered by the trial because he fled the country and now lives in self-imposed exile in Belgium.

Spanish authorities reportedly deployed hundreds of extra police to the breakaway region in anticipation of the verdict.

Protests have so far been peaceful, though police chiefs have said they are prepared for the possibility of disorder.

The ruling is likely to influence Spain’s upcoming general election, scheduled for 10 November. The election, Spain’s fourth in four years, is being held to break a deadlock in parliament.