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| Barcelona terror attack: At least 12 dead and two arrested after van drives into Las Ramblas crowd | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 12 people have died and 80 have been injured after a van ploughed into a crowd of people in Las Ramblas area of Barcelona, in an attack that mirrors the spate of recent atrocities by terrorists who used vehicles to ram down civilians across Europe. | |
| Catalonia's Regional President Carles Puigdemont told a news conference at least 12 people have died while the Catalan Interior Minister previously said the death toll of the attack in the area popular with tourists was 13. | |
| A Belgian national is among the dead, said Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders. | |
| Mr Puigdemont confirmed two suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack. | |
| Another man has been killed in a shootout with police on the outskirts of the city but it is unconfirmed whether he is one of the suspects. | |
| It remains unclear how many attackers were involved in the terror attack. | |
| Isis have claimed responsibility for the attack, the group's Amaq news agency said. | Isis have claimed responsibility for the attack, the group's Amaq news agency said. |
| Police have released a picture of the man who allegedly rented the van used in the attack and is one of the two suspects arrested by police. | |
| Spanish media named him as Driss Oukabir, who is described as a man in his twenties believed to be born in Morocco. | |
| Two armed men were also reported to have entered a restaurant near the site of the crash, something which Catalan police later dismissed. | |
| A second van linked to the attack has been found in the small town of Vic about 69 kilometres away from Barcelona, authorities have said. | A second van linked to the attack has been found in the small town of Vic about 69 kilometres away from Barcelona, authorities have said. |
| The protocols for a terror attack have been activated. | The protocols for a terror attack have been activated. |
| The van entered the pedestrian street from Placa de Catalunya and reportedly zigzagged across the street before crashing into a kiosk on La Rambla. | The van entered the pedestrian street from Placa de Catalunya and reportedly zigzagged across the street before crashing into a kiosk on La Rambla. |
| The El Pais newspaper reported that the driver of the vehicle had fled on foot and that police are looking for a man about 1.70 metres tall, wearing a white and blue stripped shirt. | The El Pais newspaper reported that the driver of the vehicle had fled on foot and that police are looking for a man about 1.70 metres tall, wearing a white and blue stripped shirt. |
| People are being evacuated from Las Ramblas area as police have launched a manhunt. | People are being evacuated from Las Ramblas area as police have launched a manhunt. |
| Meanwhile a driver has ran over two police officers at a checkpoint in Barcelona but it is unconfirmed whether the incident is linked to the van attack. | Meanwhile a driver has ran over two police officers at a checkpoint in Barcelona but it is unconfirmed whether the incident is linked to the van attack. |
| Police say a bomb squad is now checking an area on the outskirts of the city near where the drive struck the two officers. | Police say a bomb squad is now checking an area on the outskirts of the city near where the drive struck the two officers. |
| Emergency services are urging people to avoid Las Ramblas area and requested the closure of nearby train and metro stations. | |
| Ambulances and bomb disposal crews had gathered en masse at the scene. | Ambulances and bomb disposal crews had gathered en masse at the scene. |
| Ethan Spidey, 25, told The Independent there was a “stampede” as tourists and locals sprinted away from the scene of the attack. | Ethan Spidey, 25, told The Independent there was a “stampede” as tourists and locals sprinted away from the scene of the attack. |
| He said: “I was with my boyfriend just about to cross La Rambla and all of a sudden there was an immediate stampede and police shouting at people to run. | |
| “I saw a young child knocked over and picked them up but everyone was just running. | “I saw a young child knocked over and picked them up but everyone was just running. |
| “There was a stampede in the streets alongside La Rambla as everyone tried to run away. People were running into shops and taking refuge in cafes. There was a lot of screaming." | |
| Daniela Goicoechea, who was walking along La Rambla with three children aged one, two and five, told The Independent: "People started running but we didn't know what was happening. There was a lot of people running. Then policemen began chasing people. We were lost, we ran with three babies and hid in a cafe nearby." | Daniela Goicoechea, who was walking along La Rambla with three children aged one, two and five, told The Independent: "People started running but we didn't know what was happening. There was a lot of people running. Then policemen began chasing people. We were lost, we ran with three babies and hid in a cafe nearby." |
| Videos posted on social media shows dozens of people, seemingly injured, lying on the floor being cared for by emergency services. | Videos posted on social media shows dozens of people, seemingly injured, lying on the floor being cared for by emergency services. |
| Around them, the boulevard was deserted, covered in rubbish and abandoned objects including hats, flip-flops, bags and a pram. | Around them, the boulevard was deserted, covered in rubbish and abandoned objects including hats, flip-flops, bags and a pram. |
| Hospitals in Barcelona have called for blood donations following the attack to avoid potential shortages. | Hospitals in Barcelona have called for blood donations following the attack to avoid potential shortages. |
| Aamer Anwar was walking down La Rambla at the time, which he said was "jam-packed" with tourists. | |
| He told Sky News: "All of a sudden, I just sort of heard a crashing noise and the whole street just started to run, screaming. I saw a woman right next to me screaming for her kids. | He told Sky News: "All of a sudden, I just sort of heard a crashing noise and the whole street just started to run, screaming. I saw a woman right next to me screaming for her kids. |
| "Police were very, very quickly there, police officers with guns, batons, everywhere. Then the whole street started getting pushed back." | "Police were very, very quickly there, police officers with guns, batons, everywhere. Then the whole street started getting pushed back." |
| The incident took place at the height of the tourist season with Barcelona being one of Europe's top travel destinations with at least 11 million visitors a year. | The incident took place at the height of the tourist season with Barcelona being one of Europe's top travel destinations with at least 11 million visitors a year. |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are in contact with the Spanish authorities and seeking more information following an incident in Barcelona. | A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are in contact with the Spanish authorities and seeking more information following an incident in Barcelona. |
| "Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the emergency services." | "Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the emergency services." |
| The Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said terrorists will "never defeat united people". He is on his way to Barcelona to help coordinate efforts to reinforce security following the attack. | The Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said terrorists will "never defeat united people". He is on his way to Barcelona to help coordinate efforts to reinforce security following the attack. |
| Ada Colau, the Mayor of Barcelona, also tweeted a moving message on Twitter saying her city was one of "peace". | Ada Colau, the Mayor of Barcelona, also tweeted a moving message on Twitter saying her city was one of "peace". |
| "Thank you for the solidarity we have received from around the world. Barcelona is brave and united. Terror will never change that," she said. | "Thank you for the solidarity we have received from around the world. Barcelona is brave and united. Terror will never change that," she said. |
| Prime Minister Theresa May said her thoughts were with the victims of the "terrible attack" in Barcelona, adding: "The UK stands with Spain against terror." | Prime Minister Theresa May said her thoughts were with the victims of the "terrible attack" in Barcelona, adding: "The UK stands with Spain against terror." |
| Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also described the events as "a barbaric terrorist attack" and said London stood in solidarity with Barcelona. | Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also described the events as "a barbaric terrorist attack" and said London stood in solidarity with Barcelona. |
| He tweeted: "My thoughts are with the victims of this barbaric terrorist attack in the great city of Barcelona and with their brave emergency services. | He tweeted: "My thoughts are with the victims of this barbaric terrorist attack in the great city of Barcelona and with their brave emergency services. |
| "London stands with Barcelona against the evil of terrorism." | "London stands with Barcelona against the evil of terrorism." |
| While full details of the incident were not immediately clear, since July 2016 vehicles have been used to ram into crowds in a series of militant attacks across Europe, killing well over 100 people in Nice, Berlin, London and Stockholm. | While full details of the incident were not immediately clear, since July 2016 vehicles have been used to ram into crowds in a series of militant attacks across Europe, killing well over 100 people in Nice, Berlin, London and Stockholm. |
| There have been no previous terror attacks claimed by Isis in Spain, where almost 200 people were killed by al-Qaeda inspired terrorists in the Madrid bombings in 2004. | There have been no previous terror attacks claimed by Isis in Spain, where almost 200 people were killed by al-Qaeda inspired terrorists in the Madrid bombings in 2004. |
| Spanish police have arrested several suspected Isis supporters in recent years, including a suspected recruiter detained on Mallorca who was accused of inciting terror attacks. | Spanish police have arrested several suspected Isis supporters in recent years, including a suspected recruiter detained on Mallorca who was accused of inciting terror attacks. |
| The terrorist group has issued repeated calls for followers to attack "disbelievers" in the West, including detailed guidance on how to carry out vehicle attacks in high-profile public places. | The terrorist group has issued repeated calls for followers to attack "disbelievers" in the West, including detailed guidance on how to carry out vehicle attacks in high-profile public places. |