Catalan president attacks Spain's 'unjustified' referendum violence and says it projects 'dreadful image'

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont arrives to talk to the media at a sports center, assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government (AP)

The regional leader of Catalonia has accused Spanish authorities of using “unjustified, disproportionate and irresponsible” violence in its crackdown on the region's independence referendum.

Catalan president Carles Puigdemon said the batons, rubber bullets and violence showed a “dreadful external image of Spain”.

“The unjustified, disproportionate and irresponsible violence of the Spanish state today has not only failed to stop Catalans' desire to vote but has helped to clarify all the doubts we had to resolve today,” he said.

Emergency services confirmed 38 people were hurt, mostly with minor injuries as a result of police action.

Hundreds of voters were forcefully removed from polling stations with violent clashes breaking out between riot police and voters in Barcelona and near the city of Girona.

The Spanish government said it has reluctantly sent national police to stop the referendum at all costs and the aim of the National Police and Civil Guard police was to seize election materials.

A Spanish official, Enric Millo, said they were not targeting people wanting to vote despite reports of many people being injured.

“We have been made to do something we didn't want to do,” he said.

More follows…