Thousands of anti-Catalan independence protesters gather in Barcelona

People wave Spanish, Catalan (known as Senyera) and European Union flags during a demonstration in favour of a unified Spain a day before the banned October 1 independence referendum, in Barcelona, Spain, September 30, 2017. REUTERS/Susana Vera

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Thousands of demonstrators waving Spanish flags demonstrated in Barcelona on Saturday in favour of Spanish unity and against a referendum on independence for Catalonia planned by regional authorities for Sunday. The chanting crowd filled a square in central Barcelona that houses the headquarters of the Catalan regional government as well as the city council. (Reporting by Adrian Croft; Editing by Sonya Dowsett)