SILENCE from the European Union in the face of a violent referendum in Spain has been condemned with one furious politician saying he no longer wants to be European.
Images of bloodied pensioners and police firing rubber bullets into peaceful crowds shocked the world today as Catalonia attempted to hold a referendum on independence from Spain.
The Spanish interior ministry called the referendum illegal and said it will not recognise the result.
Meanwhile armed police were called to schools to shut down polling stations and remove voters.
As early reports emerged of more than 300 injured citizens and more than 10 police officers, Europeans took to the internet to condemn the silence from the EU.
Spain is a member state and the EU has insisted Madrd deal with the issue internally.
The referendum has thrown Spain into its worst constitutional crisis in decades and will have major implications for the entire nation and potentially the EU.
Catalonia is a critical contributor to the Spanish economy and accounts for 20 per cent of the nations GDP. If it became independent the region would no longer be part of the EU and could potentially unleash a major financial crisis across Spain.
But the EU remained tight-lipped for most of referendum day, with Guy Verhofstadt President of the Alliance of Liberals&Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in the European Parliament breaking the silence, amid fury the bloc should condemn Madrid.
Voters were left livid, asking Jean Claude Juncker - European Commission President - why he was keeping quiet.
One man wrote on Twitter: “What has Tusk, Juncker said? I can't believe the silence from the EU on this. Disappointment doesn't come close!”
John Michael Murray said: “Prediction - Catalan within 48 hours announces independence. Bigger headache for the EU than #Brexit.”
Dan Sanderson tweeted: “The EU want a fascist United states of Europe. viva Catalan.”
Others said they will no longer see themselves as European.
Dorothy Bruce wrote: “Difficult not to attack EU when see Catalan scenes of police violence and hear no word of condemnation from Brussels. Spain is member of EU.”
Another said: “Do not call me neither spanish nor european any more ... I M CATALAN !!!”
David Shelton said: "As Rajoy doesn't respect the Catalan Language or culture it's time EU told Rajoy he's behaving like NicolasMiduro &tell him hold Referendum!
Politician Miquel Buch led the charge, calling for the EU to condemn the violence.
He said: “If Europe does not say anything about the violence we are living, I DO NOT want to be European.”
The Spanish Government has called for voters in the region to go home, but the streets are heaving with peaceful sit-ins.
Earlier today police fired rubber bullets at protestors.
Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit envoy, released a statement at 5.30pm BST.
He said: “I don't want to interfere in the domestic issues of Spain but I absolutely condemn what happened today in Catalonia.
“On one hand, the separatist parties went forward with a so-called referendum that was forbidden by the Constitutional Court, knowing all too well that only a minority would participate as 60 % of the Catalans are against separation.
“And on the other hand - even when based on court decisions - the use of disproportionate violence to stop this.
“In the European Union we try to find solutions through political dialogue and with respect for the constitutional order as enshrined in the Treaties, especially in art. 4.
“It's high time for de-escalation. Only a negotiated solution in which all political parties, including the opposition in the Catalan Parliament, are involved and with respect for the Constitutional and legal order of the country, is the way forward.”
Express.co.uk has contacted the European Commission for comment.