Spain works to quash Catalan independence vote

Spanish police officials on Wednesday raided three Catalan regional government departments and arrested 12 senior officials in the latest crackdown against Catalonia’s independence referendum vote slated for Oct. 1. An Interior Ministry statement said the police carried out the operation to gather evidence for investigations into the referendum. Catalonia has continued to push for the independence vote despite a suspension order from Spain’s Constitutional Court and opposition from the central government. Spanish authorities have seized more than 1 million pro-referendum posters and pamphlets. Finance Minister Cristobal Monitor late Tuesday signed an order mandating supervision for payment of every nonessential service in Catalonia in a bid to ensure the region didn’t spend public funds on the vote. Catalan officials insist the autonomous northeastern region has a right to self-determination, but Spanish officials refuse to budge and say the move violates Spain’s constitution.