Almost 100 injured in Catalan protests following arrest of former leader

MADRID, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Almost 100 people were injured in protests in the Catalan region Sunday night following news of the arrest of former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont in Germany.

The Catalan Medical Emergency Service (SEM) reported that a total of 98 people needed treatment for minor injuries, such as cuts and bruises, following clashes in Barcelona, Lerida and Tarragona.

Some 90 people, including 22 local police officers, were hurt in Barcelona, with most of them hurt in clashes at the Spanish government delegation building in the city.

In the protests, rubbish containers were burned down and objects were thrown at police, who responded by using their batons.

Puigdemont, who has been in exile in Belgium since leaving Spain on Oct. 29, 2017 to avoid charges of sedition and rebellion, was arrested in Germany earlier Sunday.

The arrest happened shortly as he entered Germany from Denmark, after participating in a conference in the Finnish capital of Helsinki.

Puigdemont is now due to appear in court on Monday, although Spanish media said the extradition procedure could last up to 60 days. Enditem