- Title: Catalan leader Puigdemont hands himself in to police in Brussels
- Date: 18th October 2019
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE VARIOUS OF SIGN READING (Dutch and French): "PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE" LAWYER ENTERING OFFICE JOURNALISTS WAITING AT ENTRANCE PEOPLE EXITING PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE JOURNALISTS
- Embargoed: 1st November 2019 08:47
- Keywords: Spain crisis Catalonia protests Puigdemont arrest warrant
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1MKK07
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The former head of Catalonia's regional government Carles Puigdemont handed himself in to police in Brussels on Friday (October 18) after Spain sent a third European arrest warrant request from its supreme court.
The warrant first arrived in Spanish but the law requires that it be sent in one of Belgium's three national languages or English so Spain will send a new one next week.
The move comes after the Spanish court sentenced nine Catalan leaders to lengthy jail terms for their roles in an independence referendum on October 1, 2017 ruled illegal by Spanish courts.
Puigdemont, who back then led the region's bid for independence, fled to Belgium and now lives in self-imposed exile.
(Production: Natasha Bowler, Elena Gyldenkerne) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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