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People shout slogans as they wave Catalan pro-independence ‘Estelada’ flags during a protest in Barcelona yesterday, a day after hundreds were injured in a police crackdown during Catalonia’s banned independence referendum. Currently, Catalonia is one of the 17 provinces that make up Spain. Image Credit: AFP

Dubai: The UAE Consulate in Barcelona has issued a warning to Emiratis after pro-independence groups and trade unions announced a general strike across Catalonia on Tuesday.

In a tweet, the UAE Consulate said that demonstrations are expected to be carried out in the Catalan province, and cautioned Emiratis to avoid crowded areas.

The diplomatic mission in Spain further reminded Emiratis that public transport and trains will be affected by the strike, and to contact the UAE consulate in the event of an emergency on +34 669 444 444.

No public transport will be available between 9am and 5pm in Barcelona, according to local media reports, and Barcelona’s public universities were also expected to join the strike.

Major roads were also expected to be closed with protesters taking to the streets.

The demonstrations were called to begin at noon.

According to reports in La Vanguardia newspaper, the call for a general strike was made in protest against Spanish Police who forcibly closed down polling stations in the banned independence referendum, leaving 893 people injured.

Police officers prevented some people from voting, and seized ballot papers and boxes at polling stations. In the regional capital Barcelona, police used batons and fired rubber bullets during pro-referendum protests. 

On Monday, Catalonia’s leader Carles Puigdemont said the region won the right to break away from Spain, with his government claiming on Monday that 90 percent of voters backed the movement for independence.