Firefighters in Catalonia have turned out to support the independence referendum in the region by forming a human barrier between riot police and voters.
People took to social media to praise the fire officers for stepping in to 'protect the public' from the violence seen since polling stations opened on Sunday morning.
Days before the referendum was due to take place hundreds of firefighters gathered along the roof of Catalonia's history museum with a banner saying 'Love democracy'.
Firemen in Catalonia having to protect people from police violence. Surely the police should protect people from violence not perpetrate it. pic.twitter.com/AlMCQlZ5i2 — Alison ن (@alijaneparti) 1 October 2017
Thousands of people turned out to vote in the region on whether it should seek independence from the central Spanish government.
However it has been deemed illegal by Spain and the country's national police began to seize ballot boxes and voting papers from Catalan polling stations.
Gracias a los bomberos por proteger al pueblo catalán de la policía, muy grandes ...#CatalanReferendum pic.twitter.com/tngFiqEaHZ — Lagarder Activista (@lagarder81) 1 October 2017
Hundreds of voters were also forcefully removed from polling stations with violent clashes breaking out in Barcelona and near the city of Girona.
Emergency services confirmed 38 people were hurt, mostly with minor injuries as a result of police action.
Voters described the police as “aggressive” and giving “no warning” and police were seen smashing into one polling station using a hammer and bolt cutters to break through the glass of the front door.
Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters
17 show all Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters
1/17 A man faces off Spanish Civil Guards outside a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters
2/17 Riot police form a security cordon around the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA
3/17 Riot police evict a young woman during clashes between people gathered outside the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA
4/17 Spanish Civil Guard officers break through a door at a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters
5/17 Spanish National Police clash with pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona on Sunday AP
6/17 Crowds raise their arms up as police move in on members of the public gathered outside to prevent them from voting in the referendum at a polling station where the President Carles Puigdemunt will vote later today Getty
7/17 People confront Spanish Civil Guard officers outside a polling station Reuters
8/17 Three man hold each other as they try to block a Spanish police van from approaching a polling station AP
9/17 A woman shows a ballot to a Spanish Civil Guard officer outside a polling station Reuters
10/17 A man wearing a shirt with an Estelada (Catalan separatist flag) and holding carnations faces off with a Spanish Civil Guard officer Reuters
11/17 Police try to control the area as people attempt to cast their ballot at a polling station in Barcelona Getty
12/17 A man is grabbed by officers as police move in on the crowds
13/17 Two women argue with a Spanish National policeman during clashes between Catalan pro-independence people and police forces at the Sant Julia de Ramis sports centre in Girona EPA
14/17 Sant Julia De Ramis in Spain Getty
15/17 Confrontation outside a polling station in Barcelona, where police have tried to stop people voting AFP/Getty Images
16/17 A Spanish National Police officer aims a rubber-bullet rifle at pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona AP
17/17 Riot police clashed with voters as polls opened in Barcelona Sky News
Seventy-three per cent of polling stations have been able to open, Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull has announced.
He asked for patience, saying “there are constant attacks on the computer system”.
The ballot papers contain one question: “Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic?” with two boxes: Yes or No.
Spain's Constitutional Court ordered the vote to be suspended and central authorities say it is illegal.
TooShiftyForYou on October 1st, 2017 at 16:57 UTC »
Here's the firemen in action.
kutties on October 1st, 2017 at 16:28 UTC »
And getting beaten in the back while protecting the people
Edit: here and here the firefighters are literally forming an human wall in between the police and the people
Police against man & woman , elderly people , disabled people
jtdusk on October 1st, 2017 at 16:16 UTC »
Well, this years annual police/firefighters softball game is going to be tense.