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THE DRIVER OF a van that drove into a crowd of pedestrians in Barcelona today killing at least 13 people, is still on the run according to Spanish police.
Josep Lluis Trapero of the regional police of Catalonia told reporters that two people had been arrested – a Spaniard and a Moroccan - but that the driver of the van is still at large.
He added that the van attack was linked to an explosion that happened in Alcanar, Catalonia last night.
Belgium’s Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said a Belgian woman was among those killed in Barcelona after a van drove through the pedestrianised street Las Ramblas.
Spanish authorities said that 13 people were confirmed dead and more than 100 people were injured – warning that this “figure could climb in coming hours”.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry said in a statement that three Dutch citizens had been injured in the attack and were “in contact with their relatives”.
“They are out of danger and have been taken to a hospital,” the ministry said.
A Greek diplomat in the city said three nationals had been injured – a woman and her two children.
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs said that anyone with concerns for their loved ones in Barcelona can contact their Consular Assistance team on +353 1408 2000.
Three days of mourning have been announced for the Spanish region of Catalonia.
What happened?
At around 4pm today, a white van drove onto the popular Las Ramblas promenade and drove into crowds of pedestrians.
Shops and restaurants along the busy street reacted by taking people inside and closing shutters.
Police then cleared the areas, cordoned off the streets, suspended metro and train services in the area. People were then released from the restaurants and shops, and told to return home.
Authorities on Twitter advised people to use social media to let loved ones know they were safe to avoid collapsing the phone lines amidst an influx of phone calls.
Police response
One of the suspects was named as Driss Oukabir – who’s thought to have owned or leased the vehicle used in the attack.
Police gave no further details about the Moroccan and Spaniard arrested today and denied earlier reports a perpetrator had been holed up in a bar. There were also false reports of a shooting incident in the minutes after the attack.
Ireland’s Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan said that An Garda Síochána will “continue to liaise closely with their Spanish counterparts… to offer whatever assistance may be needed”.
He said they would “take whatever measures are necessary to deal with the threat from terrorism”.
Similar messages of solidarity have been sent out by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, EU President Donald Tusk, and US President Donald Trump.
The so-called Islamic State claimed that “soldiers” from the jihadist group carried out the attack.
Spain was hit by what is still Europe’s deadliest jihadist attack in March 2004, when bombs exploded on commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people in an attack claimed by Al Qaeda-inspired extremists.
In July 2015, a hooded attacker opened fire outside a hotel in downtown Barcelona near Las Ramblas boulevard, leaving two people injured.
With reporting from Gráinne Ní Aodha
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Shuffle himself out hopefully
@Eugene Tyson: The fact is Varadkar and his party are getting hammered on social media where the spin doctors can’t control the content, He knows he won’t get back in because his policies are a disaster.
@Dot Com: Exactly, he’d want to replace them all and appoint a new Tanaiste while he’s at it, people who actually concentrate on their jobs and take their duties seriously and conscientiously Lio won’t last himself anyway, the way things are going..
@Dot Com: do you need to broaden your echo chamber perhaps? Im no fan but fg and leo are still the likely party to lead next time check the opinion polls
@Carpentoza: Those phony phone calls they make to the usual 1000 people? These polls are used to ‘shape’ rather than ‘gauge’ public opinion. Who are the directors/shareholders of the polling companies?
@Carpentoza: I’m no fan but, Stop fooling your self pal, time to come out as an FGer.
@Dot Com: social media is irrelevant. Old people don’t read social media.
@Dot Com: But he will get back in.
@Tommy Berry: Everbody knows he wont/
@Chin Feeyin: Another misconception!
@Nuala Mc Namara: True, its also funny how few government apologists are on here trying to defend FFG. Maybe they are still in bed having a LIE-ON.
@Dot Com: The spin doctors control 1000′s of social media accounts which are easily spotted.
They will attack en mass to lessen damage to verruca.
@tommytukamomo: “1,000s of social media accounts”. Really?
@Chin Feeyin: ‘social media is irrelevant. Old people don’t read social media’
Really???
@Frank Cauldhame: dismissing information as fraudulent because it doesn’t suit you is hardly mature debate. The poorly informed representing as the enlightened
@Frank Cauldhame: Just because someone says that Leo will get back in doesn’t make them a FG apologist it just makes them a realist.
Rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic.
@tommytukamomo:
Do you think the government is at risk?
@Tweety McTweeter: Hopefully, but the same old sows & swine want to keep their snouts in the trough.
@tommytukamomo: more like lining up some more of his chums for a ministerial pension !! move a few on -those that have enough ‘service’ to claim a ministerial top up to their pension -and give some new faces a chance to boost their pension by a few grand a year !!
Housing and health about to receive a new 5 or 10 year plan.. FFG way…
@Willy Mc Caul: another 5 point plan
@tommytukamomo: five year ,plan ,duck, dive, dodge , denounce, and of course delude !
@Willy Mc Caul: Yes like the constantly wheeled out metro north nonsence? In the time they have been messing about with metro north London Has finished the dock lands light rail and the jubilee line and crossrail. In the and time 25 cities in China have completed full urban metro systems. The Spanish built a fabulous high speed rail systems. We’re still taking about a single short metro line for decades
@Gerard Heery: Now that’s definitely the FFG five year plan!
Election time sockboy
Shuffle the whole government!
Harris and Murphy about to get reassigned no doubt and the Irish media will, as always, ignore their disastrous failure.
They’ll both make a fine Taoiseach one day.
Oh no. Does that mean Shane Ross could be deployed to ruin a different area of our lives? Perhaps they could just make him the minister for making the tea at cabinet meetings?
@Conor Phillips: Lord Ross doesn’t make tea.. He has a boy for that… “Boy, fetch me my tea!”
@Conor Phillips:
I agree he’s got to be the worst Minister ever! Has ruined numerous industries with his policies.
This is so a lad thats not qualified for his brief can get a role where he’s not qualified for his brief..Sure what can possibly go wrong!!!!!
I reshuffle won’t mean much to anyone except themselves, with this incompetent bunch.
Another smug smarmy photo of this obnoxious tool.
@Adrian:Self satisfied smirk on his face
@Adrian: a tool has a use. However limited, but still has a use..
The minister for everything is as useful as a handbrake on a toilet seat.
This country is a society as well as an economy and it is people who vote for politicians not companies,etc.We hear from politicians many times on a daily basis on a variety of issues but with National emergencies in homelessness, housing and health,etc affecting our society,it’s time for politicians to really listen&it’s time for straight talking not spin,not divide &conquer and not excuses and it’s time for ALL sections of society to really feel that they matter&that the power really comes from the people!
Leo needs a boot up the backside himself
Replacing useless f”"kers with other useless f”"kers
Pass the buck time. No responsibility.
Politics, the art of the impossible, with our current totally inept useless bunch bringing new meaning to this self gratifying phrase, finding more things impossible than most.
Hopefully this clown will be first
I hope fine gael get re-elected
@Billy Davies: That’s nice, I hope they don’t.
Send Ross somewhere…
Anywhere.
Hope he gets rid of Shane Ross, when did anybody cause an accident with 50mg of Alcohol on board? Probably never!!
@Maire: Fond of a drink and a bit of driving? Hope you get busted
@Barra O Brien: Sorry, Dara, I don’t drink and Drive!
Yea abdication of the little responsibility there is.
That won’t change anything, not even their underwear?
Please god he sees sense and gets rid of that clown Shane Ross
C
Coveney would be a far better Taoiseach,
I’m sick of sock boy!
have your say