Thousands of Catalans staged a mass protest in Barcelona on Sunday, hours after their former leader, Carles Puigdemont, was detained in Germany.

Protesters scuffle with riot police blocking the road leading to the central government offices at a demonstration in Barcelona on March 25, 2018. (AFP)

Riot police struck protesters with batons and pushed them back as they tried to move towards the office of the Spanish government in Catalonia. Many protesters were carrying placards of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to decry the German police�s seizure of Puigdemont.

Puigdemont was detained while crossing the border between Denmark and Germany and Sunday, and was moved to Neumuenster correctional facility.

Protesters clash with riot police blocking the road leading to the central government offices during a demonstration in Barcelona on March 25, 2018. (AFP)

Puigdemont is facing up to 25 years in prison on charges of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds over his role in the push for the Catalan divorce from Spain.

LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/9813

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