Barcelona airport riots leave at least 53 injured and more than 100 flights grounded as pro-Catalonia protesters clash with police

AT least 53 people were injured as thousands of pro-Catalonia protesters stormed Barcelona airport last night.

Riot cops fired foam bullets and tear gas into angry rock-throwing crowds as more than 100 flights were cancelled.

The violence came as Spain's Supreme Court convicted 12 separatist leaders of illegally promoting Catalonia's independence.

Nine of the 12 independence leaders were jailed - sparking outrage among some of the wealthy region's anti-Madrid population.

A pro-independence grassroots group put out the call to converge on Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport following Monday's court ruling.

Regional emergency service SEM said 53 people were treated for injuries at the airport.

Spain's airport operator AENA said at least 108 flights were cancelled.

STREET CLASHES

Baton-waving riot police also clashed with violent crowds in central Barcelona late last night.

Trains were halted as protesters placed burning tires and wood on tracks - while roads leading to the airport entrance were blocked.

Nine of the 12 Catalan politicians and activists were found guilty of sedition and given prison sentences of nine to 13 years.

Four of them were additionally convicted of misuse of public funds.

The other three were fined for disobedience - while the court barred all of them from holding public office.

'REBELLION' CHARGES

All 12 were acquitted on the more serious charge of rebellion - which implied the use of violence.

The charges were brought by state prosecutors and lawyers for the far-right Spanish party Vox.

It came two years after the unsuccessful attempt in 2017 by Catalan independence leaders to declare secession from Spain.

Spain's caretaker prime minister Pedro Sanchez said the outcome of the four-month trial proved that secession attempt had become "a shipwreck."

PM'S PLEA

Sanchez also urged people to "set aside extremist positions" and "embark on a new phase" for Catalonia.

He added he hoped the prison sentences would mark a turning point in the long standoff between national authorities and separatist lawmakers in Barcelona, the Catalonia region's capital.

The violence comes as the Catalan separatist movement goes through its most difficult period in years.

With a general election scheduled for November 10, its most charismatic leaders are behind bars or abroad after fleeing to avoid prosecution.

'ACT OF VENGENCE'

But secessionists were defiant after the Supreme Court issued its decision in Madrid.

The convicted Catalan leaders - most of whom have been jailed for almost two years - have grown into powerful symbols for the separatists.

Many sympathisers wear yellow ribbons pinned to their clothes as a sign of protest.

Catalan regional president Quim Torra described the court's verdict as "an act of vengeance."

He said it "will not stop us from acting on our determination to build an independent state."

Former regional president Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium in October 2017, said the upcoming general election is an opportunity to show "a massive response of rejection" for the court's verdict.

Puigdemont spoke in Brussels hours after a Spanish Supreme Court judge issued an international warrant for his arrest.

The Catalan government held an independence referendum  on October 1, 2017 - despite the country's highest court prohibiting the vote.

The "yes" side won, but because it was an illegal ballot most voters didn't turn out and the vote count was considered of dubious value.

But the Catalan Parliament unilaterally declared independence three weeks later - triggering Spain's worst political crisis in decades.

The Spanish government stepped in and fired the Catalan regional government, with prosecutors later bringing charges.