BARCELONA: At least 13 people were reported killed after a van ploughed into crowds in Barcelona´s Las Ramblas avenue in the city centre on Thursday, Cadena Ser radio station reported, citing police sources.
Authorities said they were treating the incident as a terrorist attack.
However, police said some people were dead and injured but did not confirm the number of casualties. They said were searching for the driver of the van.
Other media including El Pais said there were at least 10 dead.
Catalonia´s regional police said on Twitter that they had activated the protocol for attacks after the van attack.
Regional interior minister Joaquim confirmed that at least one person died and 32 others were injured and added that the toll could rise.
Earlier, an emergency services source told AFP two people had died, and regional Catalan police have said 10 of the 32 injured are in serious condition.
Police described the incident on Twitter as a “massive crash”.
Emergency services said people should not go to the area around the city´s Placa Catalunya, and requested the closure of nearby train and metro stations.
El Pais newspaper said the driver of the vehicle had fled on foot after mowing down dozens of people.
US offers help to Spain
The United States on Thursday condemned what President Donald Trump called a “terror attack” in Barcelona´s most popular street Las Ramblas and offered its assistance to Spain.
A driver deliberately smashed a van into a crowd in Spain´s second-largest city, killing at least one person before fleeing to a nearby bar, police said.
“The United States condemns the terror attack in Barcelona, Spain, and will do whatever is necessary to help,” Trump tweeted.
“Be tough & strong, we love you!”
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that consular assistance was being provided to Americans in the city, and urged US nationals to check in with their families.
Tillerson told a press conference with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and their Japanese counterparts the incident had “all the hallmarks of yet another terrorist attack.
“We offer our condolences for the loss of life and the injuries that have occurred,” he added.
“Terrorists around the world should know — the United States and our allies are resolved to find you and bring you to justice,” he said.
Since July 2016 vehicles have been used to ram into crowds in a series of militant attacks across Europe, killing well over 100 people in Nice, Berlin, London and Stockholm.
In recent weeks, threatening graffiti against tourists has appeared in Barcelona, which draws at least 11 million visitors a year.
In one video released under the slogan “tourism kills neighbourhoods”, several hooded individuals stopped a tourist bus in Barcelona, slashed the tyres and spray-painted the windscreen.
Source: AFP, REUTERS
Students Of Prophecy Know These Rapid Tragic Events Happening In Several Places Around The World In The Name Of “Terrorism” Are Not Accident But There Is Smokescreen. Satan Marshalling His Hosts.
“Revelation 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils,…which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
Note: These Will Increase And Men’s Heart Will Fail Them Because Of Fear, The Solution The World Will Sought Is To Surrender Their Power To The “Man Of Sin, The Antichrist: The Pope” Get Ready In Jesus As We Are Very Near To The Final Crisis. Maranatha
“Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
“Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”