Occupational Therapy: Spanish National Police, Civil Guard to Stay in Catalonia

Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido has said that the units of the country's National Police and Civil Guard, which were involved in clashes with pro-independence protesters in Catalonia amid the referendum, will remain in the autonomous region to ensure that the law is observed.

BARCELONA (Sputnik) — The Minister met with the law enforcers on boats anchored at the port of Catalonia's capital Barcelona.

"[The national police officers] will stay in Catalonia for as long as it is necessary to ensure that the law is observed," Zoido said, according to a Ministry statement, assuring the officers that "all measures to protect their rights and dignity will be taken."

The Interior Minister also thanked the police officers for the "exemplary job" they did to safeguard the law, as well as the security and freedom "not only of Catalans but also all Spaniards."

Zoido said that he took pride in the police for enforcing the court verdict that had ruled the referendum unconstitutional, insisting that the security forces "did what they had to do."

On Sunday, Spain's northwestern autonomous region of Catalonia held an independence referendum despite the fact that the vote had been previously ruled illegal by the Spanish Constitutional Court. Multiple violent clashes between the Spanish national law enforcement and pro-independence activists on voting day resulted in the injury of at least 893 civilians. Madrid claimed that nearly 400 law enforcers also sustained injuries in the conflict.

Shortly after the partially thwarted referendum, the Catalan government said that 90 percent of those who cast their ballots in the vote upheld the split.