Spain: Catalan President Torra calls for calm, blames clashes on 'infiltrators'

*NO CUTAWAYS AT SOURCE*
SOT, Quim Torra, Regional President of Catalonia (Catalan): "Good evening. I call for calm and serenity. The independence movement is not and has never been violent. We have always condemned and condemn violence. We cannot allow the incidents that we are seeing on the streets of our country. This must stop right now. There is no reason or justification to burn cars or any other vandalism. The protest was always peaceful and civil. The bigger the better but always peaceful. That's how we do not lose our reason. We cannot allow that a group of infiltrators and provocateurs harm the image of millions of Catalans who have always taken to the streets in a firm but serene manner."
SOT, Quim Torra, Regional President of Catalonia (Catalan): "I repeat: serenity, determination, civility and non-violence. Good evening."
SCRIPT
The Regional President of Catalonia Quim Torra called for calm after three days of clashes and protests, during a speech in Barcelona on Wednesday evening, blaming the violence on "infiltrators and provocateurs."
"I call for calm and serenity. The independence movement is not and has never been violent. We have always condemned and condemn violence. We cannot allow the incidents that we are seeing on the streets of our country. This must stop right now," he said.
"We cannot allow that a group of infiltrators and provocateurs harm the image of millions of Catalans who have always taken to the streets in a firm but serene manner."
The protests were sparked by the Spanish Supreme Court convicting 12 independence leaders, including former Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras, for their role in the autonomous region's attempt to achieve secession and holding an illegal independence referendum. Nine of the pro-independence convicted were given jail sentences ranging from nine to 12 years.
Mandatory Credit: ACN