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What we know so far about the Barcelona terror attack | What we know so far about the Barcelona terror attack |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A van has been deliberately driven into pedestrians on one of Barcelona’s most popular boulevards, killing 13 people in what Spanish police called a terrorist attack. Here’s what we we know so far: | A van has been deliberately driven into pedestrians on one of Barcelona’s most popular boulevards, killing 13 people in what Spanish police called a terrorist attack. Here’s what we we know so far: |
Thirteen people have been killed in the attack that happened shortly after 5pm local time on Thursday, Catalonia’s interior minister Joaquim Forn has confirmed. | Thirteen people have been killed in the attack that happened shortly after 5pm local time on Thursday, Catalonia’s interior minister Joaquim Forn has confirmed. |
More than 80 people are reportedly injured and 15 are in serious condition. Three Australians were injured, one seriously. | |
According to early reports, the white Fiat van sped down the centre of the 1km-long road, which is usually packed with people, until it hit a newspaper kiosk and stopped. | According to early reports, the white Fiat van sped down the centre of the 1km-long road, which is usually packed with people, until it hit a newspaper kiosk and stopped. |
Television pictures showed people lying on the ground and a crashed van, which had stopped on top of a Joan Míro mosaic in Las Ramblas – an area which is very popular with tourists. | Television pictures showed people lying on the ground and a crashed van, which had stopped on top of a Joan Míro mosaic in Las Ramblas – an area which is very popular with tourists. |
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as hundreds of people tried to flee the scene. | Witnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as hundreds of people tried to flee the scene. |
About 80 people sheltered in a church near the incident, while others hid in shops and restaurants. | About 80 people sheltered in a church near the incident, while others hid in shops and restaurants. |
One Belgian has died, Belgium’s deputy prime minister Didier Reynders confirmed. Three Germans are also reportedly among the victims. | One Belgian has died, Belgium’s deputy prime minister Didier Reynders confirmed. Three Germans are also reportedly among the victims. |
Catalonia’s regional president, Carles Puigdemont, says there have been two arrests. Neither are the driver of the van. | Catalonia’s regional president, Carles Puigdemont, says there have been two arrests. Neither are the driver of the van. |
Police released a photograph of the man alleged to have rented the van used in the attack. He is identified as Driss Oukabir. | Police released a photograph of the man alleged to have rented the van used in the attack. He is identified as Driss Oukabir. |
Later it was reported that Oukabir handed himself into police after seeing his photograph being circulated online and in the media. He has reportedly denied being involved in the attack and told police his documents had been stolen. | Later it was reported that Oukabir handed himself into police after seeing his photograph being circulated online and in the media. He has reportedly denied being involved in the attack and told police his documents had been stolen. |
Initially there were reports that one suspect had fled to a nearby bar, but this was later denied. | Initially there were reports that one suspect had fled to a nearby bar, but this was later denied. |
One witness told Spain’s TVE television he saw the suspect when the van stopped. “It was a person in their 20s, he is very young, brown hair, a slim face,” they said. | One witness told Spain’s TVE television he saw the suspect when the van stopped. “It was a person in their 20s, he is very young, brown hair, a slim face,” they said. |
Emergency services quickly arrived on the scene and cordoned off the area, with several ambulances and police vehicles responding. | Emergency services quickly arrived on the scene and cordoned off the area, with several ambulances and police vehicles responding. |
The city closed down metro stations in the area, with authorities telling people to stay away from the area. | The city closed down metro stations in the area, with authorities telling people to stay away from the area. |
Police officials have suggested there could be a connection between the attack and two explosions earlier in the day in a house in Alcanar, in which one person died and 16 people were injured | Police officials have suggested there could be a connection between the attack and two explosions earlier in the day in a house in Alcanar, in which one person died and 16 people were injured |
Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, cancelled his holiday in Galicia, north-west Spain, to return to Madrid. He tweeted that he was in contact with the local authorities, saying the priority was to help the victims and facilitate the work of security forces. | Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, cancelled his holiday in Galicia, north-west Spain, to return to Madrid. He tweeted that he was in contact with the local authorities, saying the priority was to help the victims and facilitate the work of security forces. |
World leaders, including Germany’s Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron, condemned the attack and sent condolences to the victims. Theresa May said: “The UK stands with Spain against terror.” | World leaders, including Germany’s Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron, condemned the attack and sent condolences to the victims. Theresa May said: “The UK stands with Spain against terror.” |
Donald Trump took to Twitter to call on the people of Barcelona to be “tough and strong”. | Donald Trump took to Twitter to call on the people of Barcelona to be “tough and strong”. |
Boris Johnson, UK’s foreign secretary, said he is doing all he can to identify whether any British people need help in Barcelona. | Boris Johnson, UK’s foreign secretary, said he is doing all he can to identify whether any British people need help in Barcelona. |
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, the group’s propaganda news agency has said. | Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, the group’s propaganda news agency has said. |