Judge keeps 4 pro-independence activists accused of terrorism in jail

A judge in Spain's National Court has decided to keep four pro-independence activists from the Committees for the Defense of the Republic (CDR) group accused of terrorism in precautionary detention.

The ruling on Wednesday came one day after the same court had reversed their detention orders after deciding that the activists lacked "essential information" for their defense in the hearing authorizing their detention. A new hearing to the four suspects was held on Wednesday before the new court's decision. 

The four members of the CDR protest group continue to be held – on Saturday they will have spent two months in provisional detention.

The cases of two other suspects are still under review. All six detainees were among nine activists arrested by the Guardia Civil military police in a major operation at the end of September, seven of whom are still behind bars.

The pro-independence Alerta Solidària group, which is providing the detainees with legal support, criticized the court for a "new legal ploy" aimed at keeping the detainees locked up despite having reversed their detention orders.