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Two Catalan independence leaders taken into custody by Spanish national court

President of the Omnium Cultural Jordi Cuixart (L) and president of the Catalan Natioanl Assembly Jordi Sanchez (R) arrive to the Audiencia Nacional Court to testify within investigation after Catalonia's illegitimate Independence referendum in Madrid, Spain on October 16, 2017 - Anadolu
President of the Omnium Cultural Jordi Cuixart (L) and president of the Catalan Natioanl Assembly Jordi Sanchez (R) arrive to the Audiencia Nacional Court to testify within investigation after Catalonia's illegitimate Independence referendum in Madrid, Spain on October 16, 2017 - Anadolu

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. 

Mr Cuixart and Mr Sanchez, who as he went to court on Monday morning said he was "convinced we will return to sleep at home tonight", will now be held without bail while they are investigated on the possible charges, which carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

The pair had been at the forefront of the protests which drew tens of thousands to the Catalan economy department while national police carried out a raid inside. 

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has a set a deadline for overriding Catalonia's autonomy. - Credit: Lavandeira jr/EFE 
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has a set a deadline for overriding Catalonia's autonomy. Credit: Lavandeira jr/EFE

At least three police vehicles were vandalised and their occupants forced to flee into the building, where for hours a group of agents remained trapped by the crowds outside.

Major Josep Lluis Trapero leaves Audiencia Nacional Court in Madrid - Credit: Kiko Huesca/EFE
Major Josep Lluis Trapero leaves Audiencia Nacional Court in Madrid Credit: Kiko Huesca/EFE

The investigating judge said the independence leaders had called protesters not to a peaceful demonstration but to the protection of Catalan officials through "massive citizens' mobilisations". 

Omnium immediately condemned the ruling as "intolerable in a democratic society". "The mobilisation continues, they won't be able to imprison an entire people!" the organisation said on Twitter. 

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont - Credit: REUTERS
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont responded ambiguously to a central government ultimatum Credit: REUTERS

The Spanish attorney-general had earlier asked the judge for prison without bond for the head of the Catalan police, Josep Lluis Trapero, also under investigation for sedition for allegedly failing to carry out government orders to stop the illegal referendum. 

He was ultimately released, though ordered to surrender his passport and report to a court every 15 days.

The rulings capped a day of rising political tensions as the Spanish government warned Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont he faced his final chance to relinquish independence within three days or it would trigger Article 155, the so-called 'nuclear option' which would override Catalonia's autonomy.