Jailed pro-independence leaders begin their journey to Catalan prisons

The Spanish police van carrying independence leaders Oriol Junqueras, Raül Romeva, Jordi Sànchez, Jordi Cuixart, Joaquim Forn, Josep Rull and Jordi Turull has arrived at the Zuera penitentiary, just outside Zaragoza. 

This is the next stage of the prisoners’ journey that will bring them to Catalan prisons, where they can be closer to their families and defense teams as they await sentencing in the Catalan trial.

On Wednesday morning they will begin their journey from Zuera to the Brians 2 penitentiary center near Martorell, just outside Barcelona.

In the cases of Carme Forcadell and Dolors Bassa, they will be brought directly from the Alcalá-Meco prison to Brians 2 in one single trip on Wednesday. 

It is yet to be determined whether the imprisoned political leaders will need to return to Madrid to hear the verdict of their four-month trial, which is understood to take place after the summer.

From Brians 2, the Catalan police will take over the duties of overlooking the detention of the independence leaders, and bring them to their final destination prisons. 

Junqueras, Romeva, Sànchez, Cuixart, Forn, Rull and Turull will all be brought to the Lledoners prison, whereas Carme Forcadell will be sent to Mas d'Enric, and Dolors Bassa will be kept in Puig de les Basses.

Spokesperson for the Catalan government. Meritxell Budó, denounced the multi-day journey as an "unnecessary punishment" for the independence leaders.