Catalan secessionist leader Carles Puigdemont. 
World

Catalonia's sacked separatist leader Puigdemont turns himself in to Belgian police

Catalonia's sacked separatist leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his former ministers turned themselves in to Belgian police on Sunday after Spain issued a warrant for their arrest.

From our online archive

BRUSSELS: Catalonia's sacked separatist leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his former ministers turned themselves in to Belgian police on Sunday after Spain issued a warrant for their arrest.

"They were deprived of their liberty at 9.17 am (0817 GMT)," the Belgian prosecutor's office said.

The five were due to appear later Sunday before a judge who can decide whether to detain them or release them with conditions.

Puigdemont and his allies fled to Belgium on Monday after Spain dismissed the Catalan executive and imposed direct rule on Madrid following the regional parliament's declaration of independence.

Only the five, their lawyer and an interpreter will be present at Sunday's hearing, the prosecutor said.

Spain issued a warrant for their arrest on Friday after they failed to appear before a judge over alleged sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds.

The judge in Madrid had on Thursday put Puigdemont's deputy and seven other deposed regional ministers behind bars because of a risk that they would flee.

At least six killed, several injured in stampede at Bihar’s Ashok Dham temple

Jharkhand student protesters give CM Soren August 18 ultimatum

Hotel fire in West Bengal's Tarapith town kills seven, several injured

Vijay condemns killing of three Tamil men in Karnataka forest firing, demands high-level probe

US envoy Kushner meets Hamas' leader in push for a Gaza road map before heading to see Netanyahu

SCROLL FOR NEXT