Catalonia's president has promised to declare independence from Spain, if the result of yesterday's referendum goes his way.
Initial results suggest massive support for self-rule within the region.
Catalonia's government said that of the 2.2 million voters who were able to cast ballots in the banned referendum, two million voted for independence.
Demonstrators present the Catalonian flag during a demonstration in favor of the Catalonia's independence referendum in front of the Representation of the European Commission in Berlin, Germany | Image: Omer Messinger/SIPA USA/PA Images
But more than 800 people were injured as police tried to stop them voting.
Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy blames the violence on the Catalan government.
"We have ssen behaviour and actions that any democrat would find repugnant and which must never be repeated.
"The indoctrination of children, the harassment of judges and journalists.
"Those responsible for the events of today are only and exclusively those who promoted the illegal referendum".
During the '1-O Catalan independence referendum' spanish National Police and Civil guards prevent people from entering to the polling centres to vote | Image: Almagro/ABACA/ABACA/PA Images
In travel advice dated September 20th, the Department of Foreign Affairs advised Irish citizens to avoid political demonstrations, monitor local media and follow the advice of tour operators and local police.
Video posted on social media shows violence in the streets:
El diputat del Parlament de Catalunya @albertbotran sent empès per la policia pic.twitter.com/TLrsNZzV7t
— XabiBarrena (@XabiBarrena) October 1, 2017
Moment en que sóc colpejat per l’esquena i al cap. Mentre gravava #CatalanReferendum pic.twitter.com/UIkdXfTwuK
— XabiBarrena (@XabiBarrena) October 1, 2017
Carrega policial pic.twitter.com/Nf3Yt5qGXL
— XabiBarrena (@XabiBarrena) October 1, 2017
