Almost 500 people been injured in Spain's crackdown on Catalonia's controversial independence vote.
The Spanish central government has declared today's referendum illegal.
Spanish prime minister Mariana Rajoy said it's illegal, and authorities are simply upholding the law.
"We have shown our democratic state has resources to defend itself against these very serious attack."
New York Times Barcelona correspondent Raphael Minder said many polling stations have been busy and relatively peaceful.
But he told Larry Williams Spanish authorities have burst into some stations in Barcelona armed with batons and rubber bullets.
"Spanish national police moved in managed to close down the stations, confiscate ballot boxes and obviously keep voters out."
LISTEN ABOVE AS RAPHAEL MINDER SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS
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