Catalan political leaders said on Tuesday that the long prison terms handed to nine politicians for their role in the 2017 independence referendum had strengthened their determination to force the region’s secession from Spain.

Quim Torra, the president of Catalonia, said: “We will never give up on the right to self-determination.”

“The intention is to prevent us from doing it again, but we will do it again because holding a referendum is not a crime”, he declared.

His defiance came as demonstrators blocked a train station and several motorways in Catalonia on Tuesday, a second day of protests over Monday's jailing of nine separatists by the supreme court over their role in the failed secession bid.

Police intervened to remove the protesters, while a rally in central Barcelona closed a main thoroughfare to traffic and pro-independence leaders vowed to keep pushing for a new referendum.

On Tuesday night in Barcelona, police charged at protesters after some hurled firecrackers and other objects at the officers and kicked temporary fences put in place to protect the building.