(21 Feb 2019) Protesters backing Catalonia's secession from Spain clashed with police in Barcelona on Thursday.
They were called to protest the trial of a dozen separatist leaders.
One protester was arrested for hitting an officer in downtown Barcelona, police said. Two others were arrested in other parts of the city.
Twelve officers also received minor injuries in the clashes, according to police
The pro-secession grassroots group ANC — whose protest slogan is "self-determination is not a crime" — was planning a separate march later Thursday.
The Spanish government said regions cannot independently secede, according to the Constitution.
The trial into the roles played by the 12 separatists in Catalonia's failed 2017 secession attempt is in its second week.
On Thursday, former Catalan government member Santi Vila, ANC's ex-president Jordi Sanchez and fellow activist Jordi Cuixart were scheduled to testify at the court.
The trial is expected to last at least three months.
Election results and polls indicate that Catalonia's 7.5 million residents are divided down the middle over the secession issue.
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