
Catalan officials claimed 90% of 2.2million voters had called for independence in an 'illegal' referendum blighted by violent scenes which left at least 888 people injured.

World leaders condemned the brutal scenes after officials revealed that hundreds of protesters have been injured so far.

Officers were seen kicking and stamping on protesters as they stormed buildings and seized ballot boxes.

Footage captured in the village of Sarria de Ter in the province of Girona showed authorities using an axe to smash down the doors of a polling station where Catalan president Carles Puigdemont was due to cast his vote.

He said the region had won the right to become an independent state with the referendum results due in a few days.

And in Barcelona, the region's capital, officers fired rubber bullets at thousands of protesters demonstrating against their votes being denied.

Boris Johnson condemned the violent clashes but said that the UK saw the vote as unconstitutional.

The Foreign Secretary said: 'We are obviously worried by any violence but clearly the referendum, as I understand it, is not constitutional so a balance needs to be struck. We hope very much that things will calm down.'

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Spanish National Police prevents people from entering a voting site for the controversial referendum in Barcelona yesterday

Officers were seen stamping and kicking protesters as they stormed buildings and seized ballot boxes

Spanish Guardia Civil officers smash down the door of a polling station where the Catalan president Carles Puigdemont was due to vote in Sarria de Ter

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn earlier called on Theresa May to intervene with the Spanish government over the police crackdown.

Mr Corbyn condemned the 'shocking police violence' being used as he tweeted: 'I urge Theresa May to appeal directly to Rajoy to end police violence in Catalonia & find political solution to this constitutional crisis.'

Pope Francis also urged Europeans not to fear unity and to put aside nationalistic and other self-interests during a speech in Bologna in Italy.

He did not mention the police violence during Catalonia's independence referendum - but in a speech to university students, he recalled that the European Union was borne out of the ashes of war to guarantee peace.

He warned that conflicts and other interests were now threatening those founding ideals.

Francis said: 'Don't be afraid of unity! May special interests and nationalism not render the courageous dreams of the founders of the European Union in vain.'

Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon – who has campaigned for independence for Scotland – tweeted: 'Some of the scenes in Catalonia are quite shocking and surely unnecessary. Just let people vote.'

European leaders also voiced their disquiet over the degree of violence used, and called for dialogue between regional and national leaders.

Belgian prime minister Charles Michel tweeted: 'Violence can never be the answer. We condemn all forms of violence and reaffirm our call for political dialogue.'

At least 888 people have been hurt in the clashes across Catalonia, the city's mayor said, while Spain's interior ministry said at least 11 police officers had been injured

Spain's Prime Minister claimed the Catalonian referendum had been prevented amid the scenes of violent chaos across the country.

Mario Rajoy told a press conference that police had maintained the rule of law by preventing the vote in a crackdown which has drawn condemnation from world leaders.

At least 888 people have been hurt in the clashes across Catalonia, the city's mayor said, while Spain's interior ministry said at least 11 police officers had been injured.

And tens of thousands of fans were banned from attending FC Barcelona's football match with Las Palmas in a protest against the violence.

Spain's Constitutional Court has suspended the referendum and the central government says it is illegal.

But regional separatist leaders pledged to hold it anyway and called on the area's 5.3million eligible voters to show up to cast their ballots. They later said 90-% of 2.2million voters had opted for an independent Catalonia.

Spain's Prime Minister Mario Rajoy told a press conference that police had maintained the rule of law by preventing the vote in a crackdown which has drawn condemnation from world leaders

A man covered in blood with his shirt torn is escorted by police officers as violent clashes broke out in the northeastern region

A man falls to the ground during scuffles with Spanish Civil Guard officers outside a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis

People tend to the head wound of an elderly woman siting on a staircase as protesters take to the streets in Barcelona

A police officer fires rubber bullets at thousands of protesters demonstrating against their votes being taken away

Mr Puidgemont condemned the Spanish government's crackdown. He said: 'Police brutality will shame forever the Spanish state.'

But the Spanish deputy prime minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said officers in Catalonia are acting 'in a proportionate manner'.

She added that the Catalan government 'has behaved with absolute irresponsibility' by going ahead with the referendum.

Shocking footage from Barcelona shows police officers throwing voters down a flight of stairs and stamping on people as they raid a polling station.

FC Barcelona condemned the violence on the streets as it announced that its game today would be 'played behind closed doors'.

The club has long supported Catalonia's right for a vote on independence, without throwing its weight behind the yes or no camp.

It said in a statement: 'FC Barcelona condemns the events which have taken part in many parts of Catalonia today in order to prevent its citizens exercising their democratic right to free expression.

'Given the exceptional nature of events the Board of Directors have decided that the FC Barcelona first team game against Las Palmas will be played behind closed doors following the Professional Football League's refusal to postpone the game.'

The club's president Josep Maria Bartomeu said: 'It wasn't done for security, the security was guaranteed.

'We have done it behind closed doors so that everyone can see our opposition at what is happening.'

FC Barcelona fans wait outside the team's Nou Camp ground for news on whether a match against Las Palmas would go ahead

FC Barcelona condemned the violence on the streets as it announced that its game today would be 'played behind closed doors'

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said the club made the decision to play behind closed doors as a protest against the violent clashes rather than security concerns

It comes after it emerged that Las Palmas players would be wearing Spanish flags on their shirts to show the club's support for a united Spain.

A section of Barcelona fans' groups had threatened a peaceful pitch invasion to show their disgust at events at the polling stations if the game was not suspended.

'It was strange, I didn't like it at all,' Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets, a Catalan and World Cup winner with Spain, told BeIN Sports Spain.

'We were aware of what had happened. I think the club evaluated the possibility (of not playing) but on a sporting level that penalised us a lot.'

Players enter the field for the FC Barcelona game against Las Palmas at an empty 99,000-seater stadium

Club officials decided to hold the match behind closed doors after Spain's professional football league refused to postpone the game

The match itself was an understandably low key affair as Barca opened up a five-point lead at the top of La Liga and moved 10 points clear of Real Madrid, who host Espanyol later on Sunday. Pictured is Lionel Messi, who scored twice during the game

Barcelona fans wait outside the Nou Camp in their thousands while the match takes place in silence in the venue

Despite the closure of the stadium one fan did make it onto the pitch after Barca's second goal before being quickly hauled off by stewards.

This morning in Barcelona, police forcefully removed a few hundred would-be voters from a polling station at a school.

Daniel Riano was inside when the police busted in the building's front door.

The 54-year-old said: 'We were waiting inside to vote when the National Police used force to enter, they used a mace to break in the glass door and they took everything.

'One policeman put me in a headlock to drag me out, while I was holding my wife's hand. It was incredible. They didn't give any warning.'

Ferran Miralles said a crowd scuffled with police outside as they formed a tight perimeter around the door. Miralles said: 'They were very aggressive. They pushed me out of the way.'

Elsewhere in the city, police arrested several people outside the Treball voting centre amid scuffles on the street. Officers dragged some of the protesters away and detained them.

Q&A: Catalonia referendum explained What was the vote about? The referendum asked if voters wanted independence for Catalonia. The wealthy region of north-east Spain has its own language and culture and has some autonomous powers but its separatist government wants full independence from Madrid. Is there majority support for independence? A public survey in July found 49 per cent were opposed to independence, with 41 per cent in favour. But loyalist parties boycotted yesterday’s referendum, so the result was expected to back independence. Why are some Catalans pushing for independence? The regional government argues that it contributes more to the Spanish government than it receives in support and state investment, and that it would benefit from independence. There has been a rift between Catalonia and Madrid for centuries. In 1931, when Spain became a republic, Catalonia was given greater political autonomy. But following the Spanish Civil War, this was revoked by the military dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, and during his rule from 1939-1975, Catalan culture was heavily suppressed. What does the Spanish government think? Spain’s constitution states that the country is indivisible and the government in Madrid is strongly opposed to independence for Catalonia. Unionists say the region already has broad autonomy, with other regions such as Galicia and the Basque Country. Was the vote illegal? The Spanish government ruled that the result would not be recognised. Its decision was backed by the country’s constitutional court. Ten million ballot papers have been impounded and chief public prosecutor Jose Manuel Maza has suggested Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont could be charged with civil disobedience, abuse of office and misuse of public funds. What happens next? Under legislation approved by the Catalan parliament last month, the result is binding and a declaration of independence has to take place within 48 hours of a Yes vote. But Mr Puigdemont said a unilateral declaration of independence was not an option – and Madrid will not recognise the referendum result. Catalonia is one of Spain's wealthiest and most industrialised regions. The region has its own language and a distinct culture which leads many Catalans to consider themselves as being from a separate nation to Spain. Independence movements have existed in Catalonia for centuries but Spain's financial woes in recent years following the 2008 financial crisis have exacerbated support for sovereignty. Many Catalans believe they are paying more to the central government than they are getting back. Advertisement

Crowds raise their arms up as police move in on members of the public gathered outside a polling station

A woman calls out in pain as she is caught between protesters and a wall of riot police during pro-referendum demonstrations

Spanish deputy prime minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said officers in Catalonia are acting 'in a proportionate manner'

A voter clashes with riot police in the town of Sant Julia De Ramis as a another man carries a child out of harm's way

Catalonia-based Briton 'disgusted' by Madrid's response Fiona Williamson, 44, (pictured left) lives in La Anoia, central Catalonia, with her husband Enric Riba Segura (pictured right) and their two children A British woman at a polling station in Catalonia's unofficial independence referendum said she was 'disgusted' by the response from the Spanish government. Security forces clashed with protesters, leaving some 844 people injured after rubber bullets and baton charges were used, according to Catalan health officials. Fiona Williamson, 44, lives in La Anoia, central Catalonia, with her husband Enric Riba Segura and their two children. She was working at a polling station in Sant Marti de Tous on Sunday and said she was 'disgusted by the response of the Spanish government'. She added that there was no disruption at her venue but had heard reports of 'old people carried away by National Police in some towns'. 'There were fingers broken and sexually harassed young lady in another town,' she said. Originally from Hampstead, northwest London, Ms Williamson has lived in the region since July 1998 and said she supported the referendum because 'I am in favour of democracy'. She continued: 'For the future of a small region with tension that has been growing over the last 11 years. People need to move forward. Find peace to live together.' Footage from the venue showed hundreds of voters queuing up at the polling booth. Ms Williamson said there was a 76% turnout, with 710 people casting their votes. She described the referendum as 'a fight for democracy and human rights' and added: 'I am British, brought up to be democratic. But here the laws are not for the people.' She said: 'So far here in Tous we are safe. At least for the moment. My husband and I are now together after a long day. 'He was out in the fields watching to see if the Guardia Civils were coming. They did but couldn't get past the tractors. 'This village is just a small number of votes. None of the Spanish government's concern. 'Igualada the next nearest town has had a far different story to tell.' Advertisement

The interior ministry said this afternoon that police have closed 79 of about 2,300 polling stations that the Catalan government has authorised to stage the referendum. It added that three people had been arrested, , including a young girl, for disobedience and assault.

Earlier today, Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull said that voting was underway in 96 per cent of the voting centres.

People began arriving before dawn to join parents, children and activists who have been occuping polling stations across the region with the aim of preventing police from shutting them down.

'I have got up early because my country needs me,' said Eulalia Espinal, a 65-year-old pensioner who started queuing with around 100 others outside one polling station, a Barcelona school, in rain at about 5am. 'We don't know what's going to happen but we have to be here.'

Some of the Catalans who are defying the court orders say they want to send a strong message of displeasure with central authorities

A man is dragged away, after scuffles broke out with Spanish Civil Guard officers in the village of Sant Julia de Ramis

Police seize ballot boxes after storming a polling station in Barcelona this morning. Spain's Constitutional Court has suspended the referendum and the Spanish government says it is illegal

Pro-referendum activists are pushed away from a polling station by a wall of armed police officers

'This is a great opportunity. I've waited 80 years for this,' said 92-year-old Ramon Jordana, a former taxi driver waiting to vote in Sant Pere de Torello, a town in the foothills of the Pyrenees and a pro-independence bastion.

He had wrapped his wrists in Catalan flags, among 100-150 people who gathered at a local school that had been listed as a polling station, ready to block any police from entering. A tractor also stood guard, though no police had yet arrived.

Meanwhile, in Madrid, several hundred people have staged demonnstrations in favor of Spanish unity and against the referendum.

Some 300 people gathered Sunday in the city's Plaza Mayor square, waving Spanish red and yellow flags and chanting slogans.

Half the crowd then moved to the city's emblematic Sol square and staged a second rally in front of the regional government's headquarters.

The protesters applauded police standing guard outside the building in a show of support for Spain's security forces.

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont casts his ballot in Cornella de Terri after his initial polling station was stormed by police

Mr Puigdemont is joined by supporters at the polling station raided by officers in Sant Julia de Ramis this morning

Firemen try to hold a group of people in front of Spanish Guardia Civil officers outside a polling station in San Julia de Ramis

Pro-referendum supporters cheer as ballot boxes are carried into a polling station in Barcelona

People began arriving before dawn to join parents, children and activists who have occupied polling stations with the aim of preventing police from shutting them down

Separatist groups told people to hold activities in schools over the weekend to dodge the orders to vacate.

Some of the Catalans who are defying the court orders say they want to send a strong message of displeasure with central authorities.

Activist Augsti Gil said there were no ballots or ballot boxes in Barcelona's Joan Fuster high school, where more than a hundred people have joined another hundred who spent the night occupying the designated polling station.

Joaquim Bosch, a 73-year-old retiree, was at Barcelona's Princep de Viana high school, where a crowd of 20 people was growing.

He said: 'I have come to vote to defend the rights of my country, which is Catalonia.'

Activists placed tractors in front of polling stations in an effort to block police from storming the buildings

Police have been cracking down for days, confiscating millions of ballots and posters advertising the referendum

Police have been cracking down for days, confiscating millions of ballots and posters.

Tensions have been rising across the country over the planned vote, with thousands marching in Madrid to protest against the separatists' attempt to break up their nation, demanding that Catalan leaders be sent to jail.

In Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, thousands more took to the streets to urge their prosperous region to stay inside Spain.

Spain's foreign minister said on Saturday that the Catalan government's plan is anti-democratic and runs 'counter to the goals and ideals' of the European Union.

'What they are pushing is not democracy. It is a mockery of democracy, a travesty of democracy,' Alfonso Dastis said.

He said some pro-independence groups are 'adopting Nazi-like attitudes by pointing at people that are against that referendum and encouraging others to harass them'.