Three weeks ahead of the planned October 1st referendum, which threatens to throw the country into chaos, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across Catalonia on Monday to support a break from Spain.

The FT reports that organisers said that about half a million people signed up to attend the main march in Barcelona, an indication of the strength and commitment of the pro-independence forces.

Reuters reports around one million people rallied for Catalan independence from Spain...

City police said on Twitter that around one million people took part, one of the highest turn-outs in recent years. Protesters said they hoped the vote would go ahead as planned on Oct. 1.