Catalonia’s parliament today voted to declare independence in a huge blow to leaders in Madrid and Brussels.
The Spanish government is expected to push for the removal of Catalan’s president and to introduce for direct rule.
Leaders in Madrid have called for calm while independence campaigners are celebrating in the streets of Barcelona.
Follow the latest updates below.
3.26pm BST: Spain’s government will meet at 4pm BST.
3.25pm BST: He said Catalonia had “its own culture and language” but said he wanted to build a society which respected democracy.
He concluded: “Long live Catalonia.”
3.23pm BST: Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is speaking in Barcelona.
He urged supporters to remain “calm and peaceful”.
3.19pm BST: Donald Tusk said “nothing has changed” as far as the European Union is concerned. The president of the European Council said Brussels will continue to speak only with Madrid.
3.12pm BST: Catalan leaders at risk of arrest
The leaders of the Catalan government may be arrested in the wake of today’s controversial vote.
Catalan police forces could also be overruled, it has emerged, with Spanish officers set to be deployed once again across the region.
3.10pm BST: Madrid pushes for direct rule over Catalonia
After today’s independence vote in the Catalan parliament, the upper house of Spain’s government has already authorised Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to impose direct rule on Catalonia.
His cabinet cabinet will meet at 7pm local time to adopt the first measures to put this in place.
This will involve removing the power of autonomy for Catalan leaders, with all decisions made through Spain’s govenrment.
More to follow…