Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has decried the use of batons and rubber bullets, by law enforcement during the independence referendum in Catalonia, calling it “unjustified violence.”

FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES: Catalonia holds independence referendum amid violent attempts to thwart vote Live updates

“The unjustified, disproportionate and irresponsible violence of the Spanish state today has not only failed to stop Catalans' desire to vote ... but has helped to clarify all the doubts we had to resolve today,” Puigdemont told reporters on Sunday.

He added that the police action creates a terrible image of Spain in the international arena.

LATEST: 38 injured as result of police action vs activists at #CatalanReferendum – emergency https://t.co/69fplSacc4pic.twitter.com/Yjp7dodC3K — RT (@RT_com) October 1, 2017

38 people have been injured by police opposing activists at the referendum, Catalan emergency services have stated. Most of the injuries were minor.

READ MORE: Catalonia: Violence erupts as police block residents from voting (VIDEOS, PHOTOS)

El @semgencat ha atès 38 persones per les càrregues dels cossos policials espanyols. D'aquestes, 35 han estat lleus i 3 menys greus — Salut (@salutcat) October 1, 2017

Catalonia’s emergency services have treated 38 people who have been injured as a result of the repression by Spanish police — Catalan Government (@catalangov) October 1, 2017

Violent clashes erupted between police and Catalans during Sunday’s independence referendum. Police forcibly blocked citizens from casting their vote and broke into some polling stations to close them down.

Earlier it was reported that police had used rubber bullets and batons against civilians. The officers’ actions were apparently caught on video.

La poli surt disparant pic.twitter.com/4RyFWkaq3X — Jordi Graupera (@JordiGraupera) October 1, 2017