Security is being tightened throughout Spain following a horrendous incident yesterday where a van was deliberately driven into crowds of tourists and locals walking in Barcelona’s popular Las Ramblas tourist area, killing 13 and injuring more than 100 more.

 

This incident was then followed by a second in the town of Cambrils, just south of Barcelona, where a separate group of five terrorists with explosives strapped to their bodies were shot dead by police as they tried to commit a similar attack. Spanish police are now treating both incidents as directly linked.

 

ISIS HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY

The Islamic State terrorist group has since claimed responsibility for both attacks and Spanish Prime Minister Marino Rajoy – who is now coordinating a major effort to reinforce and bolster security – has acknowledged that this appears to have been a ‘jihadist attack’. He has also declared three days of mourning for the victims.

 

According to reports, hundreds of pedestrians ran for their lives down the 1.2km tree-lined pedestrian mall as a van ploughed into the crowd, before two terrorists were finally arrested. Meanwhile, the driver of the van is apparently known to police by name, but is currently still on the loose.

 

At the same time, the authorities have confirmed that more than a dozen victims are currently being treated for ‘critical’ injuries, including tourists from more than 15 countries.

 

WORLD LEADERS CONDEMN ATTACKS

World leaders have subsequently condemned the attacks which are the latest involving vehicles being driven into crowds. It follows the lorry event in Nice last year (14 July, 2016) and other similar deadly incidents in Berlin (19 December 2016) and London (22 March 2017).

 

In a statement following the attacks, UK Prime Minister Theresa May said: “I am sickened by the senseless loss of life in Barcelona today. The Foreign Office is working to establish if any British nationals were involved in this appalling incident and we are in close contact with the authorities in Spain, who have our full support.

 

“Following the attacks in Manchester and London, Spain stood alongside the British people. Tonight, Britain stands with Spain against the evil of terrorism.”.

 

France’s President Macron also pledged his solidarity with the Spanish people and all of the victims.

 

More than 75m tourists visited Spain last year and prior to these latest events, tourism bodies were predicting an increase to an all-time record of 83m by the end of 2017.