Crowds clash with police in Barcelona as Catalans protest arrest of fugitive former leader Carles Puigdemont in Germany

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Crowds clash with police in Barcelona as Catalans protest arrest of fugitive former leader Carles Puigdemont in Germany. Mr Puigdemont spent Sunday night in prison in Germany after he was “retained” by German police after crossing from Denmark by car on Sunday. His lawyer, Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas confirmed on Sunday: “Carles Puigdemont has been retained in Germany when he was crossing the border from Denmark, on his way back to Belgium from Denmark.” He added in a second message: “He has been treated correctly at all times. The Schleswig prosecutor's office said in a statement that 'the question of whether Mr. Puigdemont has to be taken into extradition custody, will then have to be determined by the higher regional court in Schleswig.' The answer is in its past, as Europe correspondent Gavin Lee explains

1 October 2017: The independence referendum takes place in Catalonia; it is deemed illegal by Spain and boycotted by many potential voters

27 October: Catalonia's leaders declare independence, which leads to the Spanish government imposing direct rule on the region and dissolving its parliament

30 October: Charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds are brought against various sacked members of the Catalan government, including Mr Puigdemont

2 November: Several former Catalan ministers are taken into custody in Spain

3 November: European arrest warrants are issued against Mr Puigdemont and four of his allies, who have all fled to Belgium

5 December: A Spanish judge withdraws the European arrest warrants but says the group still face possible charges for sedition and rebellion

21 December: Carles Puigdemont is re-elected to parliament during Catalan's regional elections - which Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy had called to "restore democracy"

1 March 2018: Mr Puigdemont says he is stepping aside and he backs detained activist Jordi Sanchez to run as Catalonia's president

21 March: Mr Sanchez drops his leadership bid and instead the candidacy is passed to Jordi Turull, who the following day is rejected by hardline separatists

23 March: Mr Turull and various others are arrested in Spain, and the European arrest warrants are reissued

25 March: Mr Puigdemont is detained in Germany
Protests erupt across Spain, especially in Barcelona, against Puigdemont's detention.