Catalan Separatist Leaders Get Lengthy Prison Terms for Sedition

MADRID — The Spanish Supreme Court on Monday sentenced former leaders of the Catalan independence movement to lengthy prison terms after finding them guilty of sedition for their botched attempt to break away from Spain in 2017.

The former deputy leader of Catalonia, Oriol Junqueras, received the toughest sentence: 13 years in prison. After the ruling, a Spanish judge issued a new European arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont, the former leader of Catalonia, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium, after fleeing to avoid prosecution in Spain.

The court verdicts followed a landmark trial in which 12 leaders of the Catalan independence movement stood accused of crimes ranging from rebellion and sedition to misuse of public funds.

The court sentenced nine of the former leaders to prison for sedition, as well as for misusing public funds. The remaining three were sentenced for the lesser crime of disobedience during the events two years ago, which culminated in an unconstitutional referendum followed by a declaration of independence in October 2017.

The ruling came amid another buildup of tensions in Catalonia, and protesters took to the streets of Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia as soon as the verdict was made public. The demonstrators cut off the main Diagonal Avenue that crosses Barcelona, while some gathered outside the prison where Mr. Junqueras and others are being held.

In recent days, the Spanish authorities had deployed anti-riot police officers to prepare for any major street protests. The protests escalated late on Monday, particularly around Barcelona’s airport, where thousands of demonstrators sought to occupy the main terminal. Footage shared online showed officers with batons clashing with crowds. Airlines canceled more than 100 flights, while demonstrators also disrupted traffic on some of the main railway lines and roads of Catalonia.