Getty PhotographsCarles Puigdemont, the exiled ex-Catalan chief, has evaded a large police manhunt and fled Spain, his occasion has mentioned.
Spanish authorities launched a big manhunt for Mr Puigdemont on Thursday after he made a shock return to Spain, gave a brief speech to crowds in Barcelona after which disappeared.
The 61-year-old is needed by Spain on fees linked to a failed bid for Catalan independence in 2017.
After a tumultuous 24 hours on the run, Mr Puigdemont is now again in Belgium the place he lives, his occasion’s secretary normal Jordi Turull mentioned on Friday.
In 2017, Catalonia’s pro-independence leaders together with Mr Puigdemont organised a referendum – which was dominated unlawful by Spain’s constitutional court docket – and later declared independence for the area.
Madrid imposed direct rule on the area quickly after and Mr Puigdemont fled to Belgium.
For a lot of the previous a number of years he has lived in Brussels.
On his return after seven years in exile, Mr Puigdemont briefly addressed a whole lot of supporters gathered close to the Catalan parliament in Barcelona.
“Lengthy stay a free Catalonia!” he instructed supporters and worldwide journalists on Thursday, earlier than saying that he had returned “to remind you that we’re nonetheless right here”.
“Holding a referendum will not be and can by no means be against the law,” Mr Puigdemont added earlier than rapidly disappearing.
In an interview with RAC1 radio station on Friday, Mr Turull mentioned he knew the ex-Catalan chief was in Brussels however couldn’t affirm whether or not he had made it again to his dwelling within the Waterloo municipality.
In line with the occasion’s secretary normal, Mr Puigdemont had been in Barcelona since Tuesday earlier than making his shock look outdoors Barcelona’s parliament on Thursday.
Mr Turull mentioned the previous separatist chief had dinner in Barcelona on Tuesday evening and spent all of Wednesday and Thursday within the area.
His look coincided with the investiture of Socialist Salvador Illa as the brand new Catalan president, which was overshadowed by a manhunt for Mr Puigdemont.
Roadblocks had been arrange quickly round Barcelona and Spanish TV confirmed photos from La Jonquera, a municipality bordering France, the place police might be seen stopping vehicles and checking the boots.
EPACatalonia’s police, referred to as Mossos d’Esquadra, are dealing with sturdy scrutiny from a Spanish Supreme Court docket decide, who has demanded an evidence as to why Mr Puigdemont was capable of get away.
Choose Pablo Llarena, who issued Mr Puigdemont’s arrest warrant, has additionally requested Spain’s inside ministry about its plans to arrest him on the border.
In paperwork made public by the Supreme Court docket, Mr Llarena requested the ministry to clarify what orders had been issued to detain him “after his escape”.
On Friday, Justice Minister Felix Bolanos mentioned the seek for Mr Puigdemont was the Mossos’ duty because the regulation enforcement authority in Catalonia.
On Thursday, a Catalan police officer was detained on suspicion of serving to Mr Puigdemont flee, a spokesperson for the Mossos d’Esquadra mentioned.
The officer allegedly owns a automotive by which Mr Puigdemont escaped after making his handle, Spanish media mentioned. Police later detained a second officer.
The drive denied allegations that there had been any collusion with the previous chief.
As an alternative, it mentioned, he “took benefit of the numbers of individuals round him and fled the scene in a automobile that the Mossos tried to cease however failed”.