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Barcelona police shoot at man driving lorry loaded with butane gas tanks at high speed against traffic Barcelona police shoot at man driving lorry loaded with butane gas tanks at high speed against traffic
(about 2 hours later)
Police shot at a man who stole a lorry carrying butane gas and drove it at high speed against traffic, ramming several cars on a city highway.Police shot at a man who stole a lorry carrying butane gas and drove it at high speed against traffic, ramming several cars on a city highway.
The man has been arrested and is being questioned, a police spokeswoman said. Police started chasing the truck after the driver failed to obey orders to stop from agents who had seen it driving at high speed and dropping part of its load around 11am, regional police chief Joan Carles Molinero said.
The lorry was travelling on a highway near the northeastern Spanish city's famed harbour around 11am Tuesday (10am GMT) after the man, identified in local media as Swedish citizen Joakim Robin Berggren, stole the lorry and tried to escape. During the chase that ensued, the driver took a turn near the city's famous harbour and drove against traffic and into a highway exit where several cars were hit.
It finally stopped when it crashed against one of the highway's walls. 
The suspect, identified by local media as Swedish citizen Joakim Robin Berggren, is being questioned at a regional hospital where he was sent for a medical checkup, Mr Molinero said. 
The man was suffering psychiatric problems and not attempting a terror attack, the government said.The man was suffering psychiatric problems and not attempting a terror attack, the government said.
"The detained driver of the stolen butane gas truck has a psychiatric history. It was not a case of a terrorist act," the Interior Ministry said in tweet."The detained driver of the stolen butane gas truck has a psychiatric history. It was not a case of a terrorist act," the Interior Ministry said in tweet.
About half the butane bottles were flung from the stolen truck as the man sped against the flow of traffic on the Ronda Litoral highway while he was closely pursued by police, the local police said at a press conference.About half the butane bottles were flung from the stolen truck as the man sped against the flow of traffic on the Ronda Litoral highway while he was closely pursued by police, the local police said at a press conference.
The man, 32, who was not carrying any form of weapon, hit a number of vehicles before crashing into a wall where he was removed from the cabin at gunpoint, the police said. A Brazilian woman suffered a leg injury when she was hit by one of several butane gas tanks that fell off the truck as the man tried to escape.
One person was reportedly injured by a falling container. "At the moment we have no indication whatsoever that he was planning a terrorist attack," Mr Molinero said.
A witness told La Vanguardia he heard the sirens and then saw the truck speed down the road in the wrong direction. He added that police were investigating the man and searching the place where he lived.
He said two police motorbikes followed and pointed their pistols at the driver, who surrendered.  "We are working on the possibility that it could be a person with psychological imbalances or who has consumed substances.
Spain has kept its national security alert to one step below maximum since July 2015, following violent attacks across Europe.Spain has kept its national security alert to one step below maximum since July 2015, following violent attacks across Europe.