Firemen battered by Spanish cops after forming a HUMAN SHIELD to protect Catalan independence protesters
The emergency workers were hailed after linking arms and forming a human chain to keep the two sides apart
CATALAN firemen have been hailed as “heroes” after they were seen forming a human chain to protect protesters from riot police.
Nearly 800 people were reportedly injured in a day of violence as the Spanish region pushed ahead with an “illegal” independence vote.
Riot cops drafted in from other parts of the country were filmed dragging voters from polling stations by their hair and beating others as they lay on the ground.
Amidst the chaos, local firefighters were widely praised for turning out in uniform and trying to keep the warring sides apart.
They linked arms and held back the demonstrators behind them, while seemingly shielding them from the batons of the riot cops.
One clip shows black-clad federal police laying into the firemen with truncheons – some of which have their backs turned.
The firefighters were widely praised on social media, with some going as far as calling them “heroes”.
Sharing a clip of the incident on Twitter, one witness wrote: “Thanks to firefighters for protecting the Catalan people from the police.”
Another social media user said: “Firemen in Catalonia having to protect people from police violence.
“Surely the police should protect people from violence not perpetrate it.”
The day of violence began when hundreds of people gathered before dawn at the polling stations for the referendum, which Spain's central government and courts have ruled is unconstitutional.
Their goal was to protect the polling stations by preventing police from entering and seizing ballot boxes and voting papers.
But cops forced their way into many polling stations, especially in Barcelona, the Catalan capital, and Girona, the fiefdom of Catalan president Carles Puigdemont.
In some cases police fired rubber bullets or charged demonstrators who offered resistance, witnesses said.
Videos posted on social media sites show cops throwing people down stairs, while one officer was seen jumping into a crowd of sitting protesters with a flying kick.
Another clip shows demonstrators with their hands in the air surrounding a group of riot police chanting "Murderers! Murderers!"
Catalan emergency officials say 761 people were injured in the clashes.
Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy defended the police, saying they acted with "firmness and serenity" in the face of an "attack on the rule of law."
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