Accessibility links Skip to content Accessibility Help Sign in BBC navigation Home News More Search News navigation Sections World ADVERTISEMENT Europe Catalan referendum: Activists occupy schools ahead of vote 3 hours ago Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share Image copyright REUTERS Image caption Pro-independence activists have occupied designated polling stations More than 160 schools in Catalonia have been occupied by activists trying to keep them open ahead of the region's banned independence referendum, Spain's central government says. Police visited 1,300 of the 2,315 schools in Catalonia designated as polling stations, finding 163 occupied. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attempt to vote on Sunday. Demonstrators also rallied in Barcelona on Saturday evening against the poll, calling instead for unity with Spain. Waving Spanish flags and carryi...