Police search boot of taxi 'in case Puigdemont was hiding'

Currently in Belgium and unable to return to Spain due to a national arrest warrant, Puigdemont is the only potential regional president, but the country's Constitutional Court will not allow him to be sworn in at a distance.

The regional police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, suspected Puigdemont's political supporters may be attempting to smuggle him into Spain so he could be invested as president of Catalunya once again.

Leader of the left-wing Catalunya en Comú-Podem - a branch of national party Podemos – Xavier Domènech's taxi was searched as he reached the Ciutadella Park in Barcelona, where the Parliament building is based.

Members of the public also had their vehicles searched, but Domènech was 'stunned' that this should be the case with a regional politician and especially one travelling via public transport.

“The taxi driver said this has never happened to him in his life,” Domènech revealed.

He said the Mossos even combed the inside of the car boot after asking him and the driver to get out of the vehicle.

Other cabs, cars and vans scrutinised also had the car boots raided to see if Puigdemont was inside them.