Spain: Roads blocked in Catalonia March 27 amid protests /update 2

Event

Protesters have blocked major roads and highways in Catalonia as of Tuesday, March 27, amid continued protests over the detention of former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont. Several roads in central Barcelona have been affected, as well as a route linking Tarragona and Valencia and a main highway in eastern Spain.

Continued protests are likely and outbreaks of violence are possible. On Sunday, clashes at major protests in Catalonia resulted in 89 people injured and four arrested. An estimated 55,000 people were reported to have participated in demonstrations in Barcelona.

Context

Puigdemont was detained in Germany on Sunday on charges of sedition and rebellion under a European arrest warrant. He is currently in custody awaiting a German court decision on his extradition to Spain.

Spain was thrown into a constitutional and political crisis after Catalonia held an independence referendum, deemed illegal by the Spanish government and marred with violence, on October 1, 2017. Despite a series of logistical and judicial obstacles enacted by the central government to prevent the vote, 42 percent of the Catalan population participated in the referendum, 90 percent of whom voted in favor of independence. Madrid officially suspended the region's autonomy on October 27 - just moments after the Catalan parliament unilaterally declared independence - and implemented direct central rule.

Advice

Individuals in Catalonia are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and roadblocks as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.