Spain has summoned 712 Catalan mayors for endorsing the independence referendum due to be held on October 1, reports Al Jazeera.
The state prosecutor has called for the mayors to be arrested if they fail to comply with the summons.
The move comes just days after one million Catalans marched in Barcelona calling for independence. It is the latest in a series of attempts by Madrid to stop the referendum from taking place.
Catalan leaders remain defiant however, pledging to continue with their plans to hold the referendum.