Catalan Referendum: 'Hundreds Injured' In Clashes As Police Storm Polling Stations

Daily Mail: Riot police fire rubber bullets at voters and smash into polling stations with AXES as Catalonia's illegal independence referendum descends into ugly violence

* Officers were seen storming buildings across Catalonia to seize ballot boxes and prevent voting
* The Spanish government in Madrid has declared the vote illegal and ordered it be shut down
* Separatists pledged to hold the referendum anyway and called on 5.3million eligible citizens to vote
* Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets to protest against their votes being taken away

Riot police have been deployed on the streets this morning as polling stations opened across Catalonia for the region's controversial independence referendum.

Officers were seen storming buildings across the northeastern Spanish region before walking out with 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's president Carles Puigdemont was due to cast his vote.

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Live Updates On Catalonia's Independence Referendum

Catalan government: '337 injured by Spanish police violence' during referendum - live -- The Guardian
Live updates: Clashes in Catalonia as police seize ballot boxes -- Euronews
Catalonia referendum: As it happens -- Al Jazeera
Catalonia holds independence referendum amid violent attempts to thwart vote Live updates -- RT

style="text-align: center;">Catalonia's Independence Referendum -- News Roundup
Catalan referendum: 'Hundreds injured' in clashes -- BBC
Clashes during Catalan independence vote in Spain leave at least 300 people, 12 police hurt -- Washington Post
Catalonia Attempts to Vote for Independence, Defying Spain -- New York Times
Defiant Catalans vote on split from Spain despite crackdown -- Reuters
Spanish police fire rubber bullets at Catalonia voters -- Press Association
Catalonia independence referendum: Police and voters hurt as Madrid tries to stop 'illegal' vote -- The Independent
Catalan independence: Police storm referendum polling stations -- DW
Catalonia Independence Poll: Hundreds Injured as Spanish Police Clash with Defiant Voters -- NBC
Catalonia independence referendum: Spanish police seize ballot boxes as voters cast votes -- ABC News Online
Spain: Catalonia Independence Referendum is 'Farce' -- VOA
Catalonia: Police firing rubber bullets in clash with voters (VIDEOS, PHOTOS) -- RT
The Spanish Court Decision That Sparked the Modern Catalan Independence Movement -- The Atlantic
Spain’s government is scrambling to kill Catalonia’s independence referendum by any means possible -- Quartz
Catalonia referendum: Who are the Catalans? -- Al Jazeera