La Vuelta protesters planned to pour 400l of oil on roads

The four pro-independence protesters arrested on Saturday for planning a sabotage of the La Vuelta cycling race in Catalonia were surprised by Spain's National Police in a forest in western Catalonia. 

The group were planning to pour 400 litres of oil on the roads to disrupt the race, police say. 

The sabotage act was planned to take place in Súria, in central Catalonia, and Arinsal, in Andorra, during the third stage on Monday, the beginning and ending sections of the stage. 

In a press release, the Spanish police explained that the mechanism planned for the protest consisted of two large cans of 200 liters each, connected to an activation device with a solenoid valve and a timer. 

The device was filled with a liquid similar to motor oil and hidden among vegetation. 

On Monday, the four people accused were released with the prohibition of staying 500 meters away from the area of the race. 

On Sunday, a rally was organized outside the Verneda police station in Barcelona in support of the group.