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‘The repression won’t stop us’: thousands take to the streets in protest over arrest of Catalan separatists in Spain

  • Supporters of independence for the Catalonia region claim arrests are an attempt to criminalise the largely peaceful movement

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Pro-independence demonstrators march during the protest in Sabadell. Photo: AP Photo

Several thousand Spaniards marched near Barcelona on Saturday to protest the jailing of seven Catalan separatists on suspicion they planned to carry out attacks with explosives.

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Protesters walked behind a banner that read “The repression won’t stop us. Liberty” as they marched through Sabadell, the hometown of some of the arrested separatists.

Police said 12,000 people demonstrated.

Supporters of independence for Spain’s Catalonia region claim the arrests are an attempt to criminalise a movement that is been overwhelmingly peaceful.

Pro-independence demonstrators march during a protest in Sabadell. Photo: AP Photo
Pro-independence demonstrators march during a protest in Sabadell. Photo: AP Photo
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The seven were arrested Monday on charges of belonging to a terrorist organisation, manufacturing explosives and conspiring to wreak havoc.

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