Spanish police detains Catalan activists suspected of planning violence

Nine Catalan activists were arrested by Spanish police. The police seized materials that could be used to make explosives and arrested them for planning violent actions.

For years, the movement calling for a separate state of Catalonia has been a major challenge for Spain. A short-lived independence declaration in 2017, gave way to its biggest political crisis in decades.

The raids targeted local groups working under the name Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDR), which have staged periodic protests across Catalonia since separatist leaders, the police said.

The separatist movement so far has been peaceful with mass protests. The verdict for12 separatist leaders being tried for their role in the 2017 independence referendum and declaration is expected in the first half of October.