Spanish police arrest Catalan officials ahead of independence vote

Police in Spain have arrested 12 Catalan officials and stormed several ministries in the region in a major crackdown ahead of a new independence vote on 1 October.

The referendum has been ruled illegal by the Constitutional Court in Madrid, but those in the local government have pressed ahead with plans for the poll.

Early on Wednesday morning however agents from the Civil Guard arrested regional secretary-general of the vice presidency Josep Maria Jové at the Department of Economy and Finance, with several other major figures being detained.

According to reports in the Spanish media, agents also arrived at offices of Spanish IT firm Indra, but it is unclear what relation that action might have to the referendum.

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy defended the actions on Wednesday, saying that it was a judicial decision.

'DEEPLY UNDEMOCRATIC'

Speaking in a tense session of the Spanish parliament, Rajoy told members of Catalan independence backing parties: "What you and other members of some political movements have done is extremely serious, and as you know deeply undemocratic.

"In a few hours you have attempted to defy the Spanish constitution, Catalan statute and a judicial order, as well as inventing a new law."

Pressure has been bubbling for weeks ahead of the vote, with one million people taking to the streets during the celebration of Catalan national day La Diada last week to demand independence.

Mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau said the operation was a scandal and defended the Catalan institutions.

"It is a democratic scandal that institutions are scrapped and public office holders have been arrested for political motives," Colau tweeted.