Catalan referendum: In pictures

Violence has broken out in Catalonia during a massive police operation to halt an independence referendum which Spain's constitutional court has suspended.

Emergency services have treated people who were injured when police smashed their way into polling stations to seize ballot boxes.

Warning: Some of the images below contain scenes of a violent nature

Spanish National riot police evict a young woman during clashes between the people gathered outside the Ramon Llull school and police forces in Barcelona, Catalonia, on 01 October 2017.EPA

National riot police carried this woman away from a gathering outside a school in Barcelona

Spanish police push a girl with a shield outside a polling station in Barcelona, on October 1, 2017AFP/Getty Images

Spain's deputy prime minister said police had acted in a "proportionate" way

Hundreds of people wait outside a polling station set at Cervantes School in Barcelona, Catalonia, northeastern Spain, 01 October 2017EPA

Hundreds of people queued to vote outside this school in Barcelona

Two women argue with a Spanish National policeman during clashes between Catalan pro-independence people and police forcesEPA

Hundreds of people were injured, Barcelona's mayor said

A Catalonian familiy embraces each other after voting in the "1-O Referendum" at a Sports Center in Sant Julia de Ramis, Girona,EPA

A family in Girona embraces after voting

Officers of National Police stand outside a polling center set at Sant Julia Sports Center in Barcelona,EPA

At least 12 police officers were injured in clashes

Eyewitness photo showing man with injury to his head and blood running down his face and body, ripped white T-shirtUGC

A witness in Barcelona sent this photo to the BBC's Tom Burridge - the man had been caught up in scuffles at a polling station

Crowds raise their arms up and a man holds red and pink flowers as police move in on members of the public gathered outside to prevent them from voting in the referendum at a polling station where the Catalonia President Carles Puigdemont will vote later today on October 1, 2017 in Sant Julia de RamisGetty Images

Officers from the Guardia Civil tried to prevent these people from voting in the referendum

General view as Barcelona's Lionel Messi prepares to take a freekick in the empty stadiumReuters

FC Barcelona's match against Las Palmas took place behind closed doors after a last-minute decision

All pictures copyrighted

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