"The arrests are the latest response by Spanish authorities, who are seeking to squelch the independence referendum without further fomenting separatist sentiment in Catalonia. Last week, the central government said it was taking greater control of Catalonia’s finances to guarantee regional authorities weren’t dedicating any funds to organizing the referendum.
Catalan regional administration leaders have insisted they will hold a referendum on independence from the rest of Spain on Oct. 1, defying a pledge by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy —who says such a ballot is unconstitutional—to prohibit the vote from taking place.
Prosecutors have begun to investigate more than 700 Catalan mayors and other officials who plan to help organize the vote. Police have seized electoral pamphlets and posters."
https://www.wsj.com/articles/spanish-police-detain-catalan-officials-ahead-of-independence-vote-1505904267
Catalan regional administration leaders have insisted they will hold a referendum on independence from the rest of Spain on Oct. 1, defying a pledge by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy —who says such a ballot is unconstitutional—to prohibit the vote from taking place.
Prosecutors have begun to investigate more than 700 Catalan mayors and other officials who plan to help organize the vote. Police have seized electoral pamphlets and posters."
https://www.wsj.com/articles/spanish-police-detain-catalan-officials-ahead-of-independence-vote-1505904267