(Xinhua)    13:41, October 01, 2017

(Photo/Huanqiu.com)

MADRID, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Spain's security forces have checked and confirmed that buildings which could be used as polling stations in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia are closed, the minister of interior said on Saturday.

The move came a day before the referendum over the independence of the region, which is set to be on Sunday despite having been declared illegal by the Spanish Constitutional Court.

The security forces followed orders from the Spanish justice and have checked whether public buildings that could be used as polling stations are closed or being illegally occupied by organizations supporting the independence of the region.

The ministry has confirmed that most of the buildings are closed while others have people gathering inside "in order to hinder the job of security forces".

The ministry emphasized that among people gathering inside the buildings are old people and children, a move that tries to "stop security forces from taking action".

"The use of vulnerable people shows the irresponsibility of the leaders" of the regional government of Catalonia, Generalitat, and the organizations supporting the independence of the region who are also boosting these actions, the ministry said.

(Web editor: Jiang Jie, Bianji)