For many, the situation has brought back memories of the runup to the referendum of October 1, 2017
For many, the situation has brought back memories of the runup to the referendum of October 1, 2017 AFP / Pau Barrena

Thousands of Catalan separatists hit the streets in protest and blocked access to Barcelona airport on Monday after Spain's Supreme Court sentenced nine of their leaders to heavy jail terms over the failed 2017 independence bid.

The long-awaited ruling capped weeks of rising tension, and puts the Catalan question at the heart of the political debate less than a month before Spain heads into its fourth general election in as many years.

Trial of 12 Catalan separatists in Madrid for their role in the attempted secession of Catalonia in October 2017
Trial of 12 Catalan separatists in Madrid for their role in the attempted secession of Catalonia in October 2017 AFP / Sabrina BLANCHARD

As soon as news of the sentences were announced in the morning, demonstrators flooded onto the streets of Barcelona before marching towards El Prat, Spain's second busiest airport, where they choked off road and rail access.

The sentence has provoked an angry response from Catalan separatists
The sentence has provoked an angry response from Catalan separatists AFP / Pau Barrena

At the entrance to the airport, police in riot gear repeatedly charged at protesters trying to get inside. Demonstrators responded by throwing rocks, cans and fire extinguishers.

The separatist movement has denounced the trial as purely political
The separatist movement has denounced the trial as purely political AFP / LLUIS GENE

At one point, traffic outside came to a complete standstill up to five kilometres (three miles) from the airport, with many travellers with suitcases getting out of cars and walking as a police helicopter flew overhead.

Nine of the 12 leaders were handed jail terms of between nine and 13 years, while the other three were handed fines of around 60,000 euros each
Nine of the 12 leaders were handed jail terms of between nine and 13 years, while the other three were handed fines of around 60,000 euros each AFP / GABRIEL BOUYS , LLUIS GENE, PAU BARRENA

Spanish airport authority AENA airport authority said 108 flights had been cancelled.

Factfile on the 12 Catalan separatists, their position before the attempted secession of Catalonia in 2017 and current situation.
Factfile on the 12 Catalan separatists, their position before the attempted secession of Catalonia in 2017 and current situation. AFP / Sabrina BLANCHARD

Police arrested one protester at the airport while 75 people were injured. Another three people were injured in protests elsewhere in Catalonia, local emergency services said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wants to turn a new page in relations with Catalonia
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wants to turn a new page in relations with Catalonia AFP / JAVIER SORIANO

In the evening, thousands of people gathered in Barcelona, chanting "The streets will always be ours" and other slogans. Many carried Catalan separatist flags.

The protesters managed to temporarily cut off Barcelona's El Prat airport, the second busiest in Spain
The protesters managed to temporarily cut off Barcelona's El Prat airport, the second busiest in Spain AFP / Pau Barrena

"If they don't want to listen to us by engaging in politics, then they must hear us in the streets," said Mireia Sintes, a 26-year-old architecture student at the Barcelona rally.

Thousands converged on Barcelona's El Prat airport in a bid to block off access
Thousands converged on Barcelona's El Prat airport in a bid to block off access AFP / LLUIS GENE

Scuffles broke out between police and protesters at the end of the rally after some people refused to leave a major thoroughfare.

Some said they felt like crying as the verdict came out, with one woman holding back her tears with an Estelada, a Catalan independence flag
Some said they felt like crying as the verdict came out, with one woman holding back her tears with an Estelada, a Catalan independence flag AFP / Pau Barrena

'Revenge'

Since the early hours, police have been braced for what activists pledged would be a mass response of civil disobedience. Roads have been closed in various parts of the region while rail traffic has also been hit.

The Spanish justice system now has former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont in their sights, who fled to Belgium to avoid prosecution
The Spanish justice system now has former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont in their sights, who fled to Belgium to avoid prosecution AFP / Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD

"I feel very affected by the sentence even though I expected it. I feel fury and a sense of powerlessness," said Joan Guich, a 19-year-old maths student who was protesting on Barcelona#'s main thoroughfare, Gran Via, in the afternoon.

Factfile on the 12 Catalan separatists, their position before the attempted secession of Catalonia in 2017 and their court sentences
Factfile on the 12 Catalan separatists, their position before the attempted secession of Catalonia in 2017 and their court sentences AFP /

"They have been convicted for an ideology which I agree with."

AFPTV / Rebeca Mayorga

The 12 defendants were put on trial in February for their role in the banned October 1, 2017 referendum and the short-lived Catalan independence declaration that followed it.

Protesters clash with Spanish policemen outside El Prat airport in Barcelona
Protesters clash with Spanish policemen outside El Prat airport in Barcelona AFP / Pau Barrena

The harshest sentence of 13 years was handed to former Catalan vice president Oriol Junqueras who served as the main defendant in absence of Carles Puigdemont, the region's leader who fled Spain to avoid prosecution.

"This is not justice, it is revenge," the nine defendants who were sentenced to jail said in a joint letter.

'Turn the page'

And in a separate letter released on Monday, Junqueras said the story was far from over. "We will come back even stronger... and win."

In a tweet from Brussels, Puigdemont denounced the sentences as an "outrage".

"100 years in all. An outrage. Now more than ever, by your side and those of your families. It is time to react as never before," he wrote.

Spain's government has expressed hope the trial's end would allow it to move on from the crisis in the wealthy northeastern region, where support for independence has gained momentum over the past decade.

"Following the Supreme Court decision, we need to turn the page... through dialogue," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, speaking in English.

But shortly afterwards, a judge issued a new international arrest warrant for Puigdemont, a clear indication Spain would not rest until he and five others who fled abroad had been tried for their role in the crisis.

'Outraged'

The separatist movement is hoping the guilty verdicts will unite their divided ranks and bring supporters onto the streets.

"It is time to rise up against the authoritarian fascism of the Spanish state and its accomplices," tweeted the radical CDR, as thousands heeded the call to protest.

Many said they had taken the day off to protest sentences they knew would be harsh.

"I'm not surprised but I still feel really outraged. These are good, peaceful, honest people," said Carles Navarro, a 49-year-old IT consultant.

"We have always looked for a peaceful way (to express our demands) but nobody listens. Now we're forced to resort to civil disobedience."

In the coming days, demonstrators plan to march from five towns towards Barcelona where they will congregate on Friday, when a general strike has been called.