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At least 16 people have been killed and around 100 more injured when a van ploughed into Barcelona’s Las Ramblas area – a crowded pedestrian area popular with tourists.
Las Ramblas is a 1.2km pedestrian walkway with vehicle lanes on both sides. Usually the street is bustling with crowds, street stalls and entertainers, making it an ideal target for terror – at least that is what the CIA thought.
According to Spanish newspaper el Periodico, after the attacks in major European cities such as Paris, London and Berlin, Barcelona was in the “crosshairs of terrorists” and thus the CIA warned local police of a possible attack at Las Ramblas.
Barcelona itself has been recently battling with an oversupply of tourists – the city not coping with 32 million visitors in 2016, shadowing its 1.6 million population. This is compared to London, which had 19 million visitors in the past year.
Witnesses reported a white van entered the Las Ramblas at high speed, swerving from side to side.
According to local police, the driver of the white van that ploughed into crowds is still at large after fleeing the scene. Police reported the van driver did not appear to be armed, and two other men have been arrested in relation to the attack. One of the men in custody allegedly rented the van.
The attack has reportedly been claimed by terror group Islamic State, however this is yet to be confirmed by police.
Three Australians were amongst those who were injured in the attack, one seriously.
Catalonia’s interior minister Joaquim Forn announced there would be a three-day mourning period for the victims of the attack.
The Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has also expressed his sorrow for the victims and their families, saying the attack was “jihadist terrorism” and terror requires a global response.
Spanish emergency services tweeted in several languages for people to notify their families of their whereabouts via social media to avoid collapsing the phone lines.
Spanish regional police have stated that a house explosion, which killed one person and left the structure in ruins, is linked to the Las Ramblas attack.
Reports have also emerged of an incident 90 minutes south of Barcelona where a car attempted to hit an officer and another person at a Barcelona checkpoint. A man inside the car was shot dead by police, who haven’t confirmed if this incident is related.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has urged Australians in Barcelona to follow instructions from local police, stay in their hotels and listed to local media reports.
People are urged to stay inside as footage of police operations in Cambrils, southwest of Barcelona, continue. Shots have been fired and police have confirmed several attackers have been killed.
The incident is a chilling reminder of the horrifying attack in Berlin in 2016, where a truck ploughed into Christmas markets, killing 12 and injuring dozens more.