Arrest warrant issued for ex-Catalan leader

MADRID – A Spanish judge has issued an international arrest warrant for ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four aides who have been last seen in Brussels.

National Court investigating judge Carmen Lamela filed the request with the Belgian prosecutor to detain the five, and issued separate international search and arrest warrants to alert Europol in case they flee Belgium.

According to the judge, the five are being sought for five different crimes, including rebellion, sedition and embezzlement in a Spanish investigation into their roles in pushing for secession for Catalonia.