Catalonia’s former leader Carles Puigdemont surrenders to police

Carles Puigdemont, Catalonia’s unseated leader, and four ex-advisers have surrendered to Belgian police this afternoon.

A spokesperson for the prosecution said that a judge would decide by tomorrow morning whether an EU arrest warrant issued by Spain would be exectued.

Puigdemont had fled to Belgium following Madrid’s imposition of direct rule on Catalonia after an independence referendum.

He and the four associates are being charged with rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, breach of trust and disobedience.

He had maintained he would only return to Spain if he was guaranteed a fair trial.