German police arrest former Catalan leader
Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont was arrested in Germany today after crossing into the country from Denmark.
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Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont. Photo:AFP. |
Mr Puigdemont is currently being held at a police station in Germany. His lawyer, Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas, said his client was on his way back from Finland to Belgium, where he has been living since fleeing Spain in October 2017.CNNreport
A German police spokesman said Mr Puigdemont was arrested by police in the state of Schleswig-Holstein at 11:19 a.m. The detention was based on a European warrant.
Madrid sacked Puigdemont after Catalonia declared secession in late October last year.Charged with rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds, Puigdemont faces arrest if he returns to Spain.
On March 23, the Spanish Supreme Court issued an international arrest warrant for Mr. Puigdemont. Judge Pablo Llarena said that the former Catalan leader had "created a serious risk of violence" by ignoring a ban from Madrid and deliberately holding a referendum for independence.