This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/17/what-happened-in-barcelona-las-ramblas-attack

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Barcelona van attack – a visual guide Barcelona van attack – a visual guide
(35 minutes later)
A van drove into a busy tourist districtA van drove into a busy tourist district
A white van entered Las Ramblas, a wide boulevard in the heart of Barcelona, and continued driving for more than 500 metres while crashing into pedestrians until it hit a newspaper kiosk and stopped.A white van entered Las Ramblas, a wide boulevard in the heart of Barcelona, and continued driving for more than 500 metres while crashing into pedestrians until it hit a newspaper kiosk and stopped.
Catalan police tweeted: “We can’t confirm a motive for the events that have taken place in Barcelona, but we have activated the protocol used to respond to attacks.”Catalan police tweeted: “We can’t confirm a motive for the events that have taken place in Barcelona, but we have activated the protocol used to respond to attacks.”
The driver fled the sceneThe driver fled the scene
The Spanish newspaper El País, citing police sources, said the driver of the vehicle fled on foot.The Spanish newspaper El País, citing police sources, said the driver of the vehicle fled on foot.
A man has been arrested in connection with the van attack, local police confirmed on Thursday evening. A second van linked to the attack has been found in the small town of Vic in Catalonia. Two arrests were made in connection with attack, local police confirmed on Thursday evening.
According to police, 13 people have been been killed and at least 50 injured. A second van linked to the attack was found in the small town of Vic in Catalonia.
A photograph released by the public broadcaster RTVE showed three people lying on the ground in the street, apparently being helped by police and others. A photograph released by the public broadcaster RTVE showed people lying on the ground in the street, apparently being helped by police and others.
Witnesses spoke of panic and seeing people covered in blood. Several pushchairs could be seen abandoned at the side of the street.Witnesses spoke of panic and seeing people covered in blood. Several pushchairs could be seen abandoned at the side of the street.
Will Ako, 26, from London, was eating in a restaurant called Taller De Tapas with his family when they heard a disturbance. He told the Press Association:Will Ako, 26, from London, was eating in a restaurant called Taller De Tapas with his family when they heard a disturbance. He told the Press Association:
We had just finished eating and were about to leave when we heard a commotion and the patrons in the restaurant rushing from their seats. I then saw people running to the east of the restaurant and I saw a couple of people, about 30 yards down the road, crouching around what looked like someone on the ground and they were calling for assistance. Within a couple of minutes, police started to arrive and they were running west of the restaurant and some were telling us to stay inside. Soon after, loads of cars, bikes and ambulances arrived, and then the armed police.We had just finished eating and were about to leave when we heard a commotion and the patrons in the restaurant rushing from their seats. I then saw people running to the east of the restaurant and I saw a couple of people, about 30 yards down the road, crouching around what looked like someone on the ground and they were calling for assistance. Within a couple of minutes, police started to arrive and they were running west of the restaurant and some were telling us to stay inside. Soon after, loads of cars, bikes and ambulances arrived, and then the armed police.
A popular tourist districtA popular tourist district
Las Ramblas, a street of stalls and shops that cuts through the centre of Barcelona, is one of the city’s favourite tourist destinations. People walk down a wide, pedestrianised path in the centre of the street, but cars can travel on either side. Las Ramblas is a street of stalls and shops that cuts through the centre of Barcelona and gives its name to the surrounding area. It is one of the city’s favourite tourist destinations. People walk down a wide, pedestrianised path in the centre of the street, but cars can travel on either side.
The boulevard also forms the border between Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter and the El Raval neighbourhood, both part of the historic old city and considered tourist hotspots.The boulevard also forms the border between Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter and the El Raval neighbourhood, both part of the historic old city and considered tourist hotspots.
Attacks in EuropeAttacks in Europe
Spain has so far been spared the kind of extremist violence that has occurred in France, Belgium and Germany, but it was hit by what is still Europe’s deadliest jihadi attack in March 2004, when bombs exploded on commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people in an attack claimed by al-Qaida-inspired extremists. Up to now Spain had been spared the recent extremist violence that has occurred in France, Belgium and Germany.
But it was hit by what is still Europe’s deadliest jihadi attack in March 2004, when bombs exploded on commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people in an attack claimed by al-Qaida-inspired extremists.
Vehicles have been prominently used across Europe in extremist attacks since July 2016, with more than 100 people killed in London, Nice, Stockholm and Berlin.Vehicles have been prominently used across Europe in extremist attacks since July 2016, with more than 100 people killed in London, Nice, Stockholm and Berlin.