People speak on their phones as they stand on a street in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. Police in the northern Spanish city of Barcelona say a white van has jumped the sidewalk in the city’s historic Las Ramblas district, injuring several people. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
At least 13 people have been killed and dozens injured after a van plowed into a crowd in the heart of Barcelona on Thursday. Police confirmed the arrest of one man behind the incident and said they are treating it as a terrorist attack. The van had swerved off the sidewalk into an area near the Las Ramblas avenue, a popular tourist district of the city usually crowded with foreigners who frequent the bars and shops on the stretch of this historical market area.
LIVE UPDATES (All times in IST)
1:11 am: ISIS claims responsibility for van attack in Barcelona through its Amaq news agency, Reuters report
12:10 am: Spanish police have released this photo of Driss Oukabir, the man who is alleged to have rented the van used in the attack in Barcelona.
Spanish police release photo of Driss Oukabir, man alleged to have rented van used in #Barcelona attackhttp://t.co/yUoefy3QO4 pic.twitter.com/ZEzpRtJPnO
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) August 17, 2017
12:05 am: Catalan regional police say they are evacuating people from Barcelona’s Las Ramblas area amid manhunt after van attack, AP reports.
11:55 pm: And it’s confirmed. A Catalan government official on Twitter said that 13 people have been confirmed killed in the incident.
11:50 pm: Catalan Foreign Minister condemned the attack and described the situation as ‘absolutely traumatic.’
11:40 pm: US President Donald Trump tweets, “The United States condemns the terror attack in Barcelona, Spain, and will do whatever is necessary to help. Be tough & strong, we love you!”
11:35 pm: Meanwhile, Sushma Swaraj confirms that there is no report of any Indian casualty in the attack. Indians, who are in an emergency, can contact the Indian embassy in Spain at +34-608769335.
11:30 pm: Okay, now Spanish public broadcaster RTVE is saying that one suspect in the van attack has been arrested, reports Associated Press.
11:25 pm: “Terrorists around the world should know — the United States and our allies are resolved to find you and bring you to justice,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told a press conference with Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and their Japanese counterparts. The US has offered its assistance to Spain with the investigation.
11:20 pm: Reuters has a good map showing where exactly the van swerved off the sidewalk to crash into the crowd.
See map of where van crashed into #Barcelona crowd near Las Ramblas avenue: http://t.co/kLuDe4M59S More here: http://t.co/FiwU6c6p1Z pic.twitter.com/zfoXV87WCj
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) August 17, 2017
11:15 pm: While local Spanish media is reporting a higher casualty figure, the authorities have stuck to the figure of one. However, they said the figure might go up as some of the injured are in a critical condition. Police are still searching for the driver of the van.
11:05 pm: To see photos from the site of the attack, click here
11:00 pm: The White House says President Donald Trump has been alerted to the unfolding situation in Barcelona. Chief of staff John Kelly is aware of the developments and is keeping the president informed. Trump is on a working vacation at his private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. His wife, first lady Melania Trump, sent her “thoughts and prayers” to Barcelona via Twitter.
10:40 pm: Police confirmed at a press conference that while one person has been confirmed killed in the incident, 32 others are injured of whom 10 are critically injured. The toll is likely to go up.
10:35 pm: Police confirms the deadly attack in Barcelona as an act of terrorism
Injured people are treated in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017 after a white van jumped the sidewalk in the historic Las Ramblas district, crashing into a summer crowd of residents and tourists and injuring several people, police said. (AP Photo)
10:18 pm: According to Reuters report, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he was in contact with authorities, and the priority was to attend to the injured.
UPDATE: Catalan police say there are dead, injured after van mowed down dozens in Barcelona; searching for driver http://t.co/9I1lNHqvm7 pic.twitter.com/OrlzaJZLKh
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) August 17, 2017
10:09 pm: Motive behind the attack is not confirmed yet. Catalan police have activated protocols for the attack. The police is also searching for driver of the van that mowed down dozens in barcelona.
9:55 pm: Local media is reporting that two people have been killed even though officials have not confirmed the same. At least 20 people are reported to be injured in the incident.
9:50 pm: Two armed men have entrenched themselves in a bar in Barcelona’s city centre, El Periodico newspaper is reporting. Gunfire in the area of La Boqueria Market is also being reported. It is not clear if the men were the drivers of the van.
9:40 pm: A photograph broadcast by RTVE showed three people lying on the ground in the northern Spanish city being helped by people.
9:30 pm: Local media is reporting that two armed men have entered a restaurant nearby.
This is a breaking story. More details are awaited.
