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People, one of them with a Catalan independence flag around her shoulders, watch Spain's King Felipe's statement about the situation in Catalonia. AP/PA Images

Spain's King Felipe VI declares Catalan vote illegal and warns against unrest

Spanish police have been criticised for violent scenes during Sunday’s referendum.

SPAIN’S KING FELIPE VI has this evening sternly denounced the bid by Catalan leaders to make their region independent and threw his weight behind the national authorities’ efforts to “ensure constitutional order”.

Felipe had previously struck a conciliatory tone over the tensions with Catalonia but raised the tone dramatically in a short televised address, warning that Catalan leaders’ “irresponsible conduct could put at risk the economic and social stability of Catalonia and all of Spain”.

The king broke with his previously measured tone, warning that “it is the responsibility of the legitimate state powers to ensure constitutional order”.

His address comes hours after over 700,000 people took to Barcelona’s streets to protest against police violence during a banned weekend independence referendum in Catalonia, demanding to be heard.

As the entire region went on general strike, Catalans protested throughout the day in various rallies, calling on the EU to intervene in an escalating face-off between Catalan

Crowds in Barcelona yelled for national security forces to get out, branding them “occupation forces” and raising their middle fingers at a police helicopter circling overhead.

Barcelona football club refused to train as part of a strike.

Officials said the strike slowed down public transport and paralysed freight shipments in the port of Barcelona.

It also closed down tourist sites such as the city’s emblematic Sagrada Familia Church.

Protesters rallied in the afternoon and a further demo started in the early evening, with demonstrators dancing in a central Barcelona avenue and beating drums in a carnival atmosphere.

“The streets will always be ours,” young protesters yelled.

Anger at police ‘repression’

Pictures of police beating unarmed Catalan voters with batons and dragging some by the hair during Sunday’s ballots drew international criticism.

Some demonstrators said they were not pro-independence but came out to protest in anger at the police violence.

“The important thing is for the people to be united,” said one such voter, Rachael Moya, a social worker.

“I am here because of what happened the other day. The people should be allowed to vote and we should fight against police repression.”

Catalan regional leader Carles Puigdemont said nearly 900 people had received medical attention on Sunday, though local authorities confirmed a total of 92 injured. Four were hospitalised, two in serious condition.

The national government said more than 400 police officers were hurt.

© AFP 2017.

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    Mute El Sparko
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:06 AM

    “taxied to a remote stand” – is that not where Ryanair flights go by default??

    1052
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    Mute Peter Byrne
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:50 AM

    @El Sparko: usually land around Jodrell Bank and don’t forget only hand luggage

    63
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    Mute Rúraíocht
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:04 PM

    @El Sparko: brilliant !

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    Mute Luan Willis
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:11 PM

    @El Sparko: Hahaha…..actually Stansted is the designated landing airport for security threats in UK airspace because it has remote stands well away from the terminal & other services. Even if the destination is elsewhere the aircraft is directed there with RAF escort by protocol.

    27
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    Mute Fergal McDonagh
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    Aug 31st 2020, 8:46 PM

    @El Sparko:

    1
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    Mute Euro McPúnty
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    Aug 31st 2020, 8:55 AM

    Serious bown trouser time when your enjoying your flight and all of a sudden see an RAF typhoon pull up beside the plane.

    411
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    Mute Barry Evans
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:08 AM

    @Euro McPúnty: Enjoying your flight??? Ryanair???? You’re having a larf aren’t ya?

    243
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    Mute Denise Kinsella
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:40 AM

    @Barry Evans: I’ve flown with Ryanair plenty of times and never had any complaints

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
    Favourite The only INFP in Ireland
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    Aug 31st 2020, 11:30 AM

    @Barry Evans: Ryanair are fine – very few complaints and I’ve flown with them a lot over the years

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    Mute Robbie Farquharson
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    Aug 31st 2020, 11:40 AM

    @Denise Kinsella: Exactly. Board the plane. Sit down and “enjoy” the flight. Land and disembark.

    Some proper snobs on this site alright!

    110
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    Mute Bryen O Murchu
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:30 PM

    @Denise Kinsella: That’s coz you were in a medically induced coma or something else you ingested.

    13
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    Mute Divad Nayr
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:31 AM

    Wouldn’t have happened in Ireland, We don’t have the Jets to defend ourselves.

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    Mute Paul Hedderman
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:33 AM

    @Divad Nayr: Thanks Captain Obvious ;)

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    Mute Richard Cronin
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:35 AM

    @Divad Nayr: ring the RAF & ask nicely to borrow one

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    Mute Deborah Blacoe
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:58 AM

    @Divad Nayr: I don’t know what the threat was, but what exactly could the RAF Typhoons do in the circumstances? They are outside, the threat is inside.

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    Mute Proudly Italian
    Favourite Proudly Italian
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:03 AM

    @Deborah Blacoe: extreme measures, shot the airplane down.

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    Mute Bran Brans
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:07 AM

    @Deborah Blacoe: Well, for instance, if there was a successful attempt to commandeer the aicraft and fly it into a populous area i.e. London, I’m sure the RAF Typhoons would have something to say about that.

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    Mute MickN
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:09 AM

    @Divad Nayr: Spud gun/hot air balloon with a cop with a megaphone “pull over the vehhiccle”

    54
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    Mute Brian Farrell
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:33 AM

    @Deborah Blacoe: Target acquired.

    Missile away.

    23
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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:42 AM

    @Divad Nayr: Ah come off it—–A few good young fellows with catapults!!

    8
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    Mute Ted Nugent
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    Aug 31st 2020, 11:23 AM

    @Divad Nayr: In the Garda helicopter armed with a laser pointer.

    22
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    Mute Bryen O Murchu
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:32 PM

    @Deborah Blacoe: They can blow up the plane by rockets if it does not obey there instructions and is on a flight path deemed to be intent on crashing causing civilian casualties.

    19
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    Mute Criostóir McCormack
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:48 PM

    @Bryen O Murchu: Rockets? How old are you???

    24
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    Mute Richard Ahern
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    Aug 31st 2020, 1:25 PM

    @Criostóir McCormack: very amusing

    4
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    Mute DeeM
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    Aug 31st 2020, 1:57 PM

    @Deborah Blacoe: shoot the plane down if the cockpit was compromised and the perpetrators threatened to crash land the plane in Central London!

    12
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    Mute Alan Richard Scott
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    Sep 1st 2020, 9:16 AM

    @Divad Nayr: we have deals with the RAF so yes we do. Maybe If Irish people stop their anti British dung they might engage with us more?

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:01 AM

    What constitutes a “potential security threat”?

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    Mute Jon Mackey
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:05 AM

    @Peter Cavey: that’s why you’ll never make an operator of 999 calls :)

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    Mute Ger
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:27 AM

    @Peter Cavey: maybe asked for harissa with his scone.

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:34 AM

    @Jon Mackey: tell me then? Did they have guns or bombs on-board? Were they going to hijack the plane? Were they drunk and were trying to open the door of the plane? Were they fighting each other or other passengers? Were they assaulting the cabin crew? The article is so vague.

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    Mute Ethan Lennon
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:53 AM

    @Peter Cavey: could have been any suspicious behaviour/items. The article doesnt say presumably because that information hasn’t been released

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    Mute Chris lynch
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:03 AM

    @Peter Cavey: if you need to know that much, call up and ask. If that information was publicly available we’d know.

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    Mute Canyon
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:31 AM

    @Peter Cavey: more than likely a threat a bomb was on board…some drunk leaving a note on a seat or in the jax

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    Mute Brian Farrell
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:34 AM

    @Peter Cavey: a tip off would suffice.

    5
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    Mute Joe Toner
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:46 AM

    @Canyon:
    Might have threatened to light their fartz and become human blow-torches…..

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    Mute SquintEastwood
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    Aug 31st 2020, 3:38 PM

    @Peter Cavey: somebody shouted I got a text..I’m POSITIVE and I left my mask in the toilet

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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Sep 1st 2020, 4:21 PM

    @Peter Cavey: brown skin and a phone left it the jacks it seems!

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    Mute Michael Curran
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:16 PM

    Helps with their budget requests if they can provide a few high profile cases. Must make it look like they’re doing something

    15
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    Mute corco80
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    Aug 31st 2020, 7:01 PM

    What ever flute thought a mobile phone was a suspicious device would want squeezing

    15
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    Mute Niall Sheridan
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    Aug 31st 2020, 4:35 PM

    When you hear hoofbeats outside, think horses not zebras!!

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    Mute SteveBuzzard
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    Aug 31st 2020, 6:09 PM

    Ryanair plane escorted by two RAF Typhoons …. €30k ??? Who picks up the bill I wonder?

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    Mute Roberto González
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:59 PM

    Crew obviously didn’t feel like doing the third and fourth sector

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Sep 1st 2020, 2:29 AM

    All sounds like Team America to me, durka durka, drop the WMD.

    1
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