LATEST: Violence erupts as Spanish police fire rubber bullets at Barcelona crowds

NATIONAL POLICE have fired rubber bullets at crowds in Barcelona.

The hostile move comes after violence flared during Cataluña’s independence referendum.

A number of clashes have been reported across the region as police move to stop people from voting in the illegal poll.

Emergency services said that at least 38 people have been injured so far, with images of bloodied voters emerging on social media after officers waded in with batons.

Is this really Barcelona? Hard to believe it has come to thispic.twitter.com/SAobNqk2Uh

— Bruno Maçães (@MacaesBruno) October 1, 2017

It comes after the polling station lined up for Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont was stormed by riot police, although he was later able to vote elsewhere.

He condemned the crackdown, accusing the police of using “unjustified, disproportionate and irresponsible violence.”

Although many polling stations have been shut down, the regional government has tweeted that 73 per cent remain operational.

#CatalanReferendum
Now in Sabadell (Barcelona) pic.twitter.com/BxA1TtCspE

— CharlieSBD II*II SÍ (@charliesbd) October 1, 2017

I cannot believe what I am seeing… #CatalanReferendum pic.twitter.com/8wUIuyzg2N

— Gary Paterson (@MrGaryPaterson) October 1, 2017