Breaking News Barcelona: 13 killed as van rams crowds in Las Ramblas
BBC REPORT: At least 13 people have died and 50 were injured after a van ploughed into crowds in Barcelona's famous Las Ramblas tourist area, police and local officials say.
others fleeing for cover. Police are treating the incident as terrorism.
Later they said a man had been arrested in connection with the attack.
Witnesses said the van had deliberately targeted people before stopping.
Spanish media reports said the driver of the vehicle - a white Fiat that had been rented in the city - had fled on foot.
(CLICK FOR VIDEO)
https://www.facebook.com/sophiareporting/videos/1321163271328247/
But police denied earlier reports of two suspected attackers being holed up in a bar in the city centre.
SPANISH NATIONAL POLICE/ HANDOUT Police released this photo of a man alleged to have rented the van.
others fleeing for cover. Police are treating the incident as terrorism.
Later they said a man had been arrested in connection with the attack.
Witnesses said the van had deliberately targeted people before stopping.
Spanish media reports said the driver of the vehicle - a white Fiat that had been rented in the city - had fled on foot.
(CLICK FOR VIDEO)
https://www.facebook.com/sophiareporting/videos/1321163271328247/
But police denied earlier reports of two suspected attackers being holed up in a bar in the city centre.
SPANISH NATIONAL POLICE/ HANDOUT Police released this photo of a man alleged to have rented the van.
Live updatesIn pictures: Barcelona van attack
The attack happened at the height of the season in one of Europe's top tourist destinations.
Vehicles have been used to ram into crowds in a series of attacks across Europe since July last year.
What did people see?
Tom Markwell from New Orleans, who was just arriving in a taxi in Las Ramblas, said: "I heard a crowd screaming. It sounded like they were screaming for a movie star.
"I saw the van. It had already been busted on the front. It was weaving left and right, trying to hit people as fast as possible. There were people lying on the ground."
Aamer Anwar said he was walking down Las Ramblas, which was "jam-packed" with tourists.
(CLICK BELOW FOR VIDEO)
https://www.facebook.com/sophiareporting/videos/1321163271328247/
"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.
"Police were very, very quickly there, police officers with guns, batons, everywhere. Then the whole street started getting pushed back.
"Police officers who got there just started screaming at people to move back, move back."
(CLICK BELOW FOR VIDEO)
https://www.facebook.com/sophiareporting/videos/1321161294661778/
https://www.facebook.com/sophiareporting/videos/1321152387996002/
Kevin Kwast, who is on holiday in Barcelona with his family, said: "I was eating with my family in La Boqueria market very near where the crash occurred.
"Hundreds of people started stampeding through the market... we started running with them going outside right into where casualties were already on the ground.
"Police pushed us into a money transfer shop and we've been sheltering there for over an hour."
How have politicians reacted?
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he was in contact with authorities, and the priority was to attend to the injured.
The United States has offered its assistance to Spain.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said consular assistance was being provided to Americans in the city, and urged US nationals to check in with their families.
"Terrorists around the world should know the United States and our allies are resolved to find you and bring you to justice," he told reporters.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May said her thoughts were with the victims, adding that "the UK stands with Spain against terror".
The attack happened at the height of the season in one of Europe's top tourist destinations.
Vehicles have been used to ram into crowds in a series of attacks across Europe since July last year.
What did people see?
Tom Markwell from New Orleans, who was just arriving in a taxi in Las Ramblas, said: "I heard a crowd screaming. It sounded like they were screaming for a movie star.
"I saw the van. It had already been busted on the front. It was weaving left and right, trying to hit people as fast as possible. There were people lying on the ground."
Aamer Anwar said he was walking down Las Ramblas, which was "jam-packed" with tourists.
(CLICK BELOW FOR VIDEO)
https://www.facebook.com/sophiareporting/videos/1321163271328247/
"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.
"Police were very, very quickly there, police officers with guns, batons, everywhere. Then the whole street started getting pushed back.
"Police officers who got there just started screaming at people to move back, move back."
(CLICK BELOW FOR VIDEO)
https://www.facebook.com/sophiareporting/videos/1321161294661778/
https://www.facebook.com/sophiareporting/videos/1321152387996002/
Kevin Kwast, who is on holiday in Barcelona with his family, said: "I was eating with my family in La Boqueria market very near where the crash occurred.
"Hundreds of people started stampeding through the market... we started running with them going outside right into where casualties were already on the ground.
"Police pushed us into a money transfer shop and we've been sheltering there for over an hour."
How have politicians reacted?
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he was in contact with authorities, and the priority was to attend to the injured.
The United States has offered its assistance to Spain.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said consular assistance was being provided to Americans in the city, and urged US nationals to check in with their families.
"Terrorists around the world should know the United States and our allies are resolved to find you and bring you to justice," he told reporters.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May said her thoughts were with the victims, adding that "the UK stands with Spain against terror".
Comments
Post a Comment