MADRID (Sputnik) — Several trains to Madrid has been canceled, and commuter services have also been put on hold, the Renfe railway company said Wednesday.
"Barcelona Sants stations halts commercial services because of violations of public order,"the Renfe railway company wrote Wednesday on Twitter.
Sants station right now #Barcelona #Catalonia #VagaGeneral8N #Sants pic.twitter.com/xayT4k8992
— Guiri Indepe (@guiri_indepe) 8 ноября 2017 г.
The majority of the protesters are students that decided to participate in the general strike called by pro-independence activists.
Main Barcelona Train Station now #FreePoliticalPrisoners pic.twitter.com/7CJKyKd7bH
— Help Catalonia 🎗 (@CataloniaHelp2) 8 ноября 2017 г.
In late October, following Catalan parliament’s approval of the declaration of independence, the Spanish authorities enacted article 155 of the constitution, which allows Madrid to impose direct rule over the autonomous region. The Catalan government and parliament were dissolved and snap elections were scheduled for December 21.
On November 3, Spain issued a European Arrest Warrant for dismissed Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and several other ministers, who had fled to Belgium. They have later turned themselves in to the Belgian police and the court will decide on the issue of their extradition to Madrid on November 17.