Van Crashes into crowded street in Barcelona
 

Breaking news posted on USA Today -

A white van on Thursday mounted a sidewalk and struck several people in Barcelona's Las Ramblas district, according to Spanish police.

Spanish police say several people have been injured in a "massive crash," according to the BBC.

The El Pais newspaper said police have cordoned off the street and shut down

At least two people killed, 20+ injured.
The van entered the pedestrian lane in the center of the Ramblas (street, not district) from Pl. Catalunya.
Police is still looking for a second van.
So terrible.

http://www.elperiodico.com/es/barcel...celona-6228813

Unfortunately, there is no end to it...

Really, really not funny, Bedar. For shame.

Is this a terrorist act or have they gotten serious about getting rid of tourists ?>

Wow - can't believe anyone idiot enough to post that. Yeah let's joke about folks getting killed and injured.

Horrible. Radio news said the person ran off. Anyone heard if they caught him?

Yes, Bedar, not very nice!

At last report there are 13 dead, 56 transfered to the hospital.

TDudette, seems there were 3, one arrested, one killed in a shoot out, one at large. I expect not for long.

....and why has Fodor disabled the ability to report thoughtless and inappropriate posts? I tag you Bedar.

La Vanguardia reported 13 dead more than an hour ago..
CNN confirmed it a few minutes ago.

This is terrible. They also say, there were 2 vans - one to murder people, one for getaway.

Just when I was beginning to think that Spain had escaped from the jihad (assuming this is jihad-connected terror)

Does Bedar still need an answer? Isis says it's theirs. Yes Spain has been let off the hook at least since the Madrid train bombings. Looks like that's over.

Unfortunately, Barcelona is no stranger to terrorism, ETA having been activity during the Franco years and beyond. I'd also point out that no place is safe from terrorism even the US.

These terrorist are hijos de putas.
I am Spanish tonight and my thought go to them.

And instead of "getting rid of tourists" let these acts spur tourism to cities affected - Put Barcelona on your next trip itinerary.

The ETA have killed over 820 people since 1968 and injured 1,000's. The Atocha train bombing in 2004 killed 192 and injured 1,000's. Unfortunately this is not new for Spain.

Expect more terrorism as ISIS becomes weaker, as they do not want to appear as such. Does any of the effect me? Well maybe. We were supposed to go Belarus next year and the Russians just sent 100,000 troops in. So we might not go. But Spain, France, England, nah.

I saw the second plane hit the Trade Center and our building was consumed by twice by ashes and human remains that day. But I resolved not to be intimidated.

Go look in the mirror, Bedar. We don't like what you see, either.

Boo terrorism.

my heart goes out to the wonderful fun, generous people of Catalunya and Barcelona - you are in our prayers

Above comments by WhatH and PalenQ very much appreciated. I am a Catalonian by proxy now, and Barcelona, here I come!!!

In about three weeks I'll be there.

I guess all our prayers and hope go out to all the families and loved ones of those who died last night. Plus all those affected either wounded or traumatised.

I saw the new barriers in Nice this year and I guess more streets will be pillared around tourist hot spots

At least there is clarity about innocence and guilt. We will defeat all these people.

On the other side

I see the people in the second van all got "taken out" before they did much damage and the hunt goes on for the first team (who may or may have not been the second team).

I join all those who condemn violence and terrorism.

I join all those who send thoughts and love and hope to the people of Barcelona, and Catalunya, and Spain, and beyond.

I also join all of those who believe that when possible, we should seek understanding before judgment. I sincerely believe in the premise, “innocent until proven guilty.”

So while I don’t understand Bedar’s words, I would like to hear Bedar’s explanation before rendering judgement. JMO.

Your post proves once more that you are a kind and balanced person kja.

As for Bédar the need for a good word got the better of him.
I agree that he could come and elaborate or say something that would remove some of the extremely bad impression he left.

I agree/hope that such acts show ISIS weakness.

This method of terrorism seems to be the 'thing' now because it's so easy to do, almost anyone can rent a vehicle and if so inclined use it to plow through a major pedestrianized thoroughfare. What can be said anymore. Just horrible.

Barcelona is the first place I visited abroad with my boyfriend of 12 years now. My heart is with the victims and residents of this fair city and the entire country of Spain.

Bedar might have been getting the same news that we have had here in Australia this week about a group of people in Spain damaging a tourist bus and putting signs up on the beach and other places for tourists to stop coming to Barcelona and Spain in general. The news article said that this group would be focusing on Malaga and San Sebastián in the coming weeks. Im not sure if this anti tourist sentiment is correct ( maybe a beat up) as we didn't find that when we were in Barcelona in April

My heart goes out to the people affected by thiis terrible attack. I just can't get my head around the why.

Cheska15, the events are unrelated. The tourist bus incident was more than a week ago and were local youth. Barcelona has become frustrated with so many tourist in their town driving up housing prices and changes that force locals to move outside the city. Venice is another city where tourism has a negative impact.
ISIS has taken credit for yesterday's activities. And they may well have chosen Catalonia for the fact that Catalans are working up to a referendum in October to split, and getting from Morocco and Spanish north africa to that area of coast is easy. Details keep unfolding.
I am sure Bedar didn't understand the enormity and it was just an impulsive post, but just because you think it, doesn't mean you have to type (or say) it. It is too easy to hit 'send' without knowing what you are saying.
Sadly, there are 'Spaniards' who do not consider Catalans worth their sympathy. So on top of this attack is also the tweets and social media posts that as it happened to Catalans, it isn't worth their Spanish tears.
It is all a sad state of affairs.

q. Sadly when a person is so far away all you get is the media's view of events without the full background, and the media seem to never let the facts get in the way of a story. It is awful to think that people are not able to show sympathy for the loss of life, and the injured irrespective of political beliefs.
Luckily I don't believe everything that is written in the media. My intention of my post was not to cause offence, just an explanation of what we are hearing in the last month.

Cheska15, I didn't take offense and I don't think others can either. I follow several travel posts, and spent numerous hours yesterday following Barcelona news. It was also being translated by a regular poster into english. Some of it my assumption (the reason Catalonia may have been a target); the last paragraph was from tweets that were publicized. those are hard to misconstrue.
However, the bulk of the support has been just that, supportive and done in solidarity. There resilience is amazing, as Las Ramblas was open for business later today..so says the Barcelona news, though crowd events for the Gracias Festival are cancelled.
I am glad your April visit was not marred by any of this.

q Thanks for your reply. Spain is such a beautiful country and the warmth and friendliness of the people were amazing. That is why I found the media reports a load of rubbish because we did not have that experience.

Media are not interested in anything positive it doesn't sell.
Support us the only thing we can do now but I am amazed at how much difference it makes.
When Bruxelles was hit I was really thankful for all the support Belgium got.
When it was 9/11 my US friends appreciated the small gesture my mails were.
My Spanish friends answered me to thank my words of compassion I sent them.
Just a pity we have to send so many such messages ...
i am not aware of soaniards not supporting Barcelona and because Catalonia might separate. If such vile people exist it is not worth mentioning it. Some people live in hate. Like in charlotte. But most people - the ones who count - are reacting Soundly.
I had been planning a visit close to varcelona, time to do it.

quilting - Unfortunately, Venice wouldn't exist if there weren't tourists. It's been quite a while since it was a great port or power.