Catalan town councils to sue over referendum violence

Three town councils in the Girona area of Catalonia are preparing to file a joint lawsuit against those responsible for the police operation during the independence referendum on October 1.

With the help of volunteer lawyers, the local authorities of Girona, Sant Julià de Ramis and Aiguaviva intend to sue police officers, commanders and the politicians responsible for the operation.

The lawsuit is backed by some 130 complaints from individuals, who allege incidents of hate speech, sexual assault, injury and torture.

Legal spokesman, Albert Carreras, alleged that the police operation was politically motivated and targeted specific towns, such as the polling places were president Carles Puigdemont was to vote and the school his daughters attend.