Police (Mossos d’Esquadra) sources say that up to fifty were injured in a "massive crash". Thirteen people have died. Catalonia's emergency services have told people not go to the area around Plaça Catalunya.
The van entered the pedestrian walkway at the start of Las Ramblas and hit people along the central boulevard. It is said to have been travelling at high speed. A taxi driver has told TVE that the driver of the van was knocking down whoever he could. Another eye-witness reports hearing shots.
Metro and train stations have been closed, and restaurants, shops and hotels have been ordered to put up shutters and to allow no one to go onto the streets.
The police have confirmed that the incident was a terrorist attack and have activated their protocol for such an attack. They are searching for the driver of the white Fiat van who fled the scene on foot.
Mossos have released information about one of the suspected terrorists, giving his name as Driss Oukabir. Two arrests have been made. One of the suspects has been shot dead by police (information as of 20.45).
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said that he is in contact with authorities, and that the priority is to attend to the injured.
The incident took place at the height of the tourist season in Barcelona, which is one of Europe's top travel destinations with at least 11 million visitors a year.
7 comments
And as we are all held up at passport control for hours, a rubber boat comes ashore on mainland Spain, full of young men carrying bags of who knows what. Unchecked and run off into the country.
Mallorca please recognise your tourism income can disappear in an instant, it is a fragile economy and once gone, plunges the island into yet another intensive recession, which it has only just crawled out of. London is now a lot quieter with tourists. It takes only one thing that cripples an economy.The news is tragic. But sadly if we are honest, we all knew that it was coming, it was only a matter of time. Be vigilant everyone. Love and support to all the victims and their families. Wishing speed of recovery to all those injured.x
The Guardia/Policia have shot dead 5 terrorists wearing suicide belts in a resort area. This latest info. is connected with the Las Ramblas Van Attack. Well done the police teams, for their rapid reaction to these vermin. I hope those injured make full recoveries as quickly as possible. The repercussions from this latest terrorist atrocity will be felt around th world. I hope Mallorca learns from this, and takes protective measures to protect all who reside and visit the Island. All Tourist areas throughout the world , need to respond to protect all the people.
Ged, nice thoughts, but in my opinion, misguided. If we carry on as before, things will only get worse. RIP to the victims.
Yet another thug whose life is going nowhere kills innocent people to achieve some kind of notoriety. Spain gave this man a home and he does something like this. Spain will bury her dead, grieve and then carry on. To continue going about our lives normally shows these people that we will never be cowed by tyranny and violence.
barrels plan to get rid of tourists is a success
Otra reconquista.