The former Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont has been arrested in Germany while trying to return to Belgium, where he has been living since the Catalan referendum.
German police intercepted and arrested Mr Puigdemont at the Danish border at 11.19am on the basis of a European warrant, according to his lawyer.
A Spanish Supreme Court judge had reactivated an international arrest warrant for the former President on Friday. Mr Puigdemont is wanted by Spain on charges of ‘rebellion’ and ‘sedition’ following his involvement in the Catalan referendum last year. The Catalan region declared independence from Spain without their consent back in October. Spain’s government sacked the Catalan President and his entire administration before dissolving the parliament. Since the end of October, Catalonia has been under direct rule from Madrid.
Under Spanish law, the former President could now face up to 30 years imprisonment on charges of rebellion.
