Judge Pablo Llarena ordered five of the Catalan politicians who answered a court summons Friday to be held without bail. The charges of rebellion stem from an illegal independence declaration by the Catalan parliament last October. One of those jailed Friday was former Catalan government minister Jordi Turull, the third candidate since the December election to become Catalan president. In explaining his decision to bring charges, Llarena said Catalan separatist politicians and groups had plotted ways of achieving Catalonia's independence for the past six years. His ruling also warned that the strategy to secede is "dormant and awaiting resumption" once separatists regain control of the regional Catalan government.

Source: ABC News March 23, 2018 09:05 UTC