tourist talking to me earlier, sheltering in the wake of this terrorist attack in barcelona. this is bbc news, i'mjane hill. this is bbc news, i'mjane hill. this is bbc news, i'mjane hill. this is our main story here this evening. a terror attack in the heart of barcelona — a van ploughs into pedestrians in las ramblas, a district popular with tourists. it was all of us, and police shouted at everyone to run. there was a really loud crashing noise. i did not stop to look back. it was just an immediate stampede in the opposite direction. police in the city confirm at least one person has died and more than 30 have been injured. ten are in a serious condition. spanish police say they are searching for the driver, who fled the scene on foot. they are advising people to stay away from the area. there have been reports on local

media that two armed men have barricaded themselves in a nearby bar. it is still not clear as to whether that is connected with the gun attack. —— with the van attack. you're watching a bbc news special on events in barcelona — we are staying with this one news story here on bbc news. in the last few hours there has been a terror attack in barcelona, police say that they are dealing with an ongoing situation, a van ploughed into pedestrians in one of the busiest tourist areas of the spanish city. so, to confirm what we know at this stage. spanish police confirmed at least

one person has been killed and 32 injured. ten are seriously injured. this happened, as you can see on the map in that tourist area of las ramblas, ona map in that tourist area of las ramblas, on a major thoroughfare through the centre of the city. it is particularly popular with tourists because of markets, bars and restaurants. 0ver tourists because of markets, bars and restaurants. over the last the hours witnesses have described hundreds of people running down the streets. people have spoken to us who were hiding in shops, in a church. spanish media is reporting two armed men have been in a nearby barand taken two armed men have been in a nearby bar and taken hostages but that specific line hasn't been confirmed by police. let's take a look at the scene live in barcelona at the moment. this tells its own story, reflecting exactly what all of the eyewitnesses we have been talking to have been saying. that police have

been moving people out of the area as much as possible. the advice is to stay indoors, and anyone who has been out on the streets have been moved away and we have spoken to many witnesses here on bbc news in the last few hours. they have been moved out of the key central area for their own safety. the police cordon has been getting slowly bigger, which is why the streets are looking very quiet. not entirely deserted there, but every witness we have spoken to have said that they have spoken to have said that they have been hurried down side streets, people have been running and police have been moving people away. certainly, at the moment, the advice is to still stay indoors wherever possible. to reiterate, the casualty numbers, as we understand them, there has been a lot of confusion about this, the official police comment on that is one person has

died and 32 are injured. you may well have heard or picked up on social media are far bigger numbers than that, sadly. that is partly because spanish media say that at least 13 people have died. that is what is being said locally. spanish police will not confirm that at this stage. there is talk, first of all, to will geddes. a security consultant, well known to us here at the bbc. we speak to him a lot about these sorts of incidents. by chance, i gather that you are in barcelona? can you explain what you have experienced today and what you know of the situation? absolutely. i have been down at the court in line along las ramblas. i was actually hear a few hours ago. the view is, it's a very small boulevard, in many regards. it is incredibly busy. every single shop or building contains a cafe, a shop, a restau ra nt. contains a cafe, a shop, a restaurant. it is packed, from dawn

until dusk, with tourists. and locals. i got reports, i was a mile away from the events taking place andi away from the events taking place and i got there as quickly as possible. the police cordon was quickly mounted by authorities and they put it further out every ten or 15 minutes, moving the general public away. the sense here is, business as normal. it may be partly due to people not being necessarily aware of what has actually occurred today. and when you heard that this was a van that had driven into pedestrians, one person that i spoke to said that he watched it swerving, almost making a figure of eight, if ican almost making a figure of eight, if i can put it that way, swerving into pedestrians. what goes through your mind about the modus operandi here?

it's a typical and standard delivery platform by terror groups these days. and extremists, we have seen a lot of it recently and in north america obviously. again, the delivery of attack by vehicle is easy to mount and it is difficult to prevent, other than with vehicle mitigation methods, putting concrete blocks into key areas. barcelona will be reconsidering their planning to incorporate blocks around touristy areas in the city where there is a vast number of people congregated. that plays into the terror ideal. a lot of intelligence coming through now, there are certain people who are quite jumpy. there are a lot of different reports coming in right now, as you and i both know, in the first occasion of

terror incidents, there could be some unsubstantiated reports. some will be speculation but there have been confirmations that the second vehicle, that this vehicle was also rented and one can assume, certainly within a short period of time, that spanish intelligence agencies are all over it and looking into the individual and any known associates. there will be thoughts of whether there could be other attacks in the imminent period. and so, that presents an extremely worrying scenario for the authorities, because, not to say that it could be in barcelona, but it could be in another city. how, given your knowledge of this world, how do the authorities respond to that? will they have, for example, a plan of

action for precisely this grim sort of eventuality? in terms of prevention, it is incredibly difficult without putting in physical barriers as a proactive measure. i've been in many cities in the uk, and especially in london where i live, but authorities have a very good heritage of dealing with these kinds of incidents. certainly, ranging right back to these events, they have a good legacy of dealing in this capacity and certainly, all agencies that are directly affected, there are supporters of islamic state, and they would have been preparing themselves after each preceding attack, and as we have seen, preceding attack, and as we have seen, many preceding attack, and as we have seen, many of these attacks have involved a delivery of attack by a vehicle. because, regrettably, that is just so straightforward to do, is

it as basic as that? sadly, it is. it is something which is, u nfortu nately, it is something which is, unfortunately, an element of our everyday lives, and it is something that unfortunately any large town or city cannot exist without unless it has a sophisticated public transportation infrastructure. for the time being we will always have vehicles on our roads but where there are cities who could feel that they are vulnerable to this, they have to go on adopting a more robust stance, certainly introducing bees concrete blocks and hostile vehicle mitigation measures where they can. and unfortunately, the general public should take reassurance from that rather than an alarmist perspective, in that we had to live in fear. we are going to be safer

with protective measures all around us. with protective measures all around us. and the only thing that could truly prevent this kind of attack, and you and i reflected on this the morning after the london bridge attack here in the uk, ultimately, because of what has happened here is relatively straightforward, as you describe, only intelligence will prevent these attacks? absolutely, intelligence agencies, sharing intelligence agencies, sharing intelligence between various countries, that is key. you may have seen, i have on twitter, various names touted as the identity of the individual behind the attacks today. and so, again, one must be cautious but agencies have sufficient intelligence and many of those that have had those horrific attacks have been known to a greater or lesser degree by agencies. the problem that we face is one of resource. for those agencies, being able to

monitor and keep watch in various different forms. those who could be a potential risk to us. will geddes, it's good to have your time this evening. the terrorism and security expert, who, by chance, is in barcelona. we are sadly well used to talking to will geddes in events like this, and by chance he is in that spanish city tonight and was able to speak to us. there is actually a couple of important lines coming from the catalan police in the last few moments. and reuters news agency. they say that police are telling them that they have arrested one man. so, catalan police telling reuters news agency that they have arrested one man. also, an important caveat, because they are saying, police are saying, there is nobody held up in a bar in barcelona, and that is interesting.

they are responding to several hours of response in pat —— reports in spanish media that two men were holding people in a bar. that came through in the last couple of hours and spanish media have consistently reported that and it appears catalan police wanted to explain that that element was not correct. so, police are adamant that there is nobody being held up in a bar in barcelona. but just being held up in a bar in barcelona. butjust in the last few minutes, police have said that they have arrested one man. 0ur correspondent tom burridge has been following this yearin tom burridge has been following this year in the bbc studios as well. tom, you are very familiar with the country too. probably worth drawing breath for a moment. firstly, as ever, explaining exactly what police are thinking is this situation right now? at the moment, police are not

going beyond this casualty figure of one dead. but the important phrase in the statement that we got from the official from the interior ministry of the catalan government, they have a devolved government, with their own police force, that was coming straight from their twitter feed. but the catalan police said that there could be more. the spanish media, i am on their website right now, the most read newspaper in the country, el pais and el mundo say that there are at least 13 people dead. and the most popular radio station. i would be very surprised if that death toll does not rise. the catalan police force, i think, we are now getting official information from catalan authorities, there is nobody holed

up authorities, there is nobody holed up in authorities, there is nobody holed upina authorities, there is nobody holed up in a bar in the centre of barcelona. they have detained one man in relation to the terror attack. it is interesting, actually, on el mundo's website, they have published a photo of a man which they say has come directly from police, i'm not clear on whether it has come from spat—— spanish national police or from mozos, they have a man on earth african origin with legal residency in spain, they have a photo of a suspect, a man wa nted have a photo of a suspect, a man wanted in connection with the attack. that has been released online and we will have that photo for people to see. it seems swift, given that this only happened in the last three, maximum four hours. but

it isa last three, maximum four hours. but it is a fast moving situation of course. there was an earlier reference to finding a van in a nearby area, not in barcelona it self? is a town that i am familiar with, i had colleagues who went there for a story in the last couple of years. it is a fairly small place 60 kilometres from barcelona. police have found the van, information is coming from the mayor there, quoted in spanish press. you would be surprised if the basic information is incorrect, he is essentially saying that this van has been found, and it is thought that it could be linked to the attacks. at the moment, i do not think we should read too much into this van, things may become clear that actually this van has nothing to do with the attack at all, but it is part of that investigation. and that's coming from the town itself. and

your thoughts on what kind of impact that this has had upon people. and relating to spain, and what the national debate has been on terrorism and how vulnerable they feel, what are your thoughts more broadly? people will remember the bombings, several years ago, well before i was in spain, on the train system, small trains coming into the capital of madrid. that was the major terror attack in spain in recent yea rs. major terror attack in spain in recent years. this does not seem on that scale by any means but clearly it isa that scale by any means but clearly it is a serious attack. it will concentrate minds, i remember going around in the trade, —— in madrid,

asi around in the trade, —— in madrid, as i wasjogging, i left there two yea rs as i wasjogging, i left there two years ago or so. as i wasjogging, i left there two years ago or so. there have been other terror attacks in other parts of europe. spain had not been hit in the time that i was there, in the five years or so in spain. there was a heavy police presence outside, the train station in the madrid area, that area of barcelona, it is heaving. that particular area of las ramblas, it is a labyrinth of tiny streets. it is a beautiful area. it isa streets. it is a beautiful area. it is a very packed and densely packed area. of course, las ramblas is one of the most famous places. a lot of locals avoid the area because it is so locals avoid the area because it is so packed with tourists on any day. the other interesting thing is, the cata la n

the other interesting thing is, the catalan government, on a political step back from this, the catalan government is planning a referendum on independence from spain at the beginning of october. the spanish and have said, you cannot do it, it is illegal and against the constitution. this has been dragging on for years. there a stand—off between the catalan and spanish government. mariano rajoy, the spanish prime minister, is going to barcelona now and that is not surprising. he will want to be there, it's a big incident for the country. we will get a sense of unity. spanish media are saying in the next 12 minutes or so, we will hear from the head the next 12 minutes or so, we will hearfrom the head of the next 12 minutes or so, we will hear from the head of the catalan government. he is expected to give a statement, do not expect if it is delayed given the complexity and lack of clarity and how things are only just becoming lack of clarity and how things are onlyjust becoming clearer by the minute. 0nce onlyjust becoming clearer by the minute. once he gets a statement, then we will get some actual concrete facts wrong authorities. and the fact that he is giving a

statement, i guess it means that authorities are getting a hand on the situation, and they know the fa cts o n the situation, and they know the facts on the ground. we will keep an eye. thank you. i know that you will be staying with us, tom burridge. a suggestion that there will be a statement from catalan police at half—past. keep an eye on that and see whether further details are given in the news briefing. let's speak to another eyewitness in barcelona at the moment. charlie parsons joins barcelona at the moment. charlie parsonsjoins me on barcelona at the moment. charlie parsons joins me on the barcelona at the moment. charlie parsonsjoins me on the phone. thank you for talking to the bbc. what have you experienced in barcelona today? i was cycling up las ramblas when suddenly a huge crowd rushed into me, about ten or 20 metres in front of me. you freeze when that happens. 0bviously something was happening, there was screaming. i froze, i was actually on a city bike that i needed to return. that was my first thought and then i thought, i

have to get to safety. i walked down las ramblas, passing three or four people who had something that had happened to them. there was blood, i could see them on the ground. i showed it in a shop as it was closing its metal blinds. it was quite a scary moment. did you begin to understand what was happening or was its sheer confusion? obviously something had happened, i could hear shots, it may have been police. i assumed it was gunfire of some kind. there was clearly something awful that had happened. having been in london when the most recent london bridge attack happened, i recognised what it was. your reaction is weird. you freeze, and i can literally think of the time i went in... i went into the shop as they were closing the shutters, as i say. your first thought is, my god, what was

that about? in the shop, people were actually crying. i think some people may have had friends outside who did not get in before the shuttle was closing. i was thinking... this is awful. it was the scariest thing that has happened in my life, for sure. given that, it's very good of you to talk to us, charlie. do you feel able to assess what the mood is now? admittedly, still only a few hours later, but have you been able to get a sense of what local people are thinking and feeling about this? notjust are thinking and feeling about this? not just tourists? are thinking and feeling about this? notjust tourists? i don't know. i walked out the back door of this place about 15 minutes after i had gone in. it was weird, it was obviously before it had got to the news. so nobody was even really aware of it. barcelona life, which is very busy, was just continuing. i don't know. knowing from london,

people will get on with their business, they will not let it affect them. they did not seem to be an error of panic, even though by the time i had to go up and around, to get to where i was staying, and played a catalina —— plaque at the catalu nya was closed, played a catalina —— plaque at the catalunya was closed, people were just walking. it was scary in the moment, the people may be curious about what had happened. i am sat on about what had happened. i am sat on a roof terrace and a helicopter has been circling since the incident, looking for something. you can hear police sirens and ambulances that life has to go on. i feel like staying in. i do not want to be going out tonight, that is how i feel. it's really good of you to speak to us. thank you very much indeed. charlie parsons talking to

us indeed. charlie parsons talking to us from barcelona, and explaining what he has experienced like so many others in the last few hours in the spanish city. now, the catalan government has been putting updates on twitter, and as we are now familiar with, it is often on social media but announcements are made in relation to these investigations and it is worth telling you that the cata la n it is worth telling you that the catalan government is now saying on twitter that there is confirmation, sadly, that 13 people have died. at least 50 have been injured. this is what they have been putting on to their twitter, i3 what they have been putting on to their twitter, 13 people have been killed and at least 50 are injured. those are similar to the kinds of figures that spanish media have sadly been reporting in the last couple of hours but we have only just had that confirmed. the catalan government have confirmed i3

just had that confirmed. the catalan government have confirmed 13 people are dead and at least 50 injured. we know, in the last little while, that one person has been arrested. police announced that in the last little while. 0ne announced that in the last little while. one man has been arrested. theresa may, the british prime minister, issued a brief statement. inaudible in response to that terror attack in barcelona. the british prime minister says that the uk stands with spain against terror. donald trump, from the us, has said that america stands ready to help spanish authorities after today's attack. just a final thought from you, just for now, tom burridge, a bbc correspondent in spain for several yea rs. correspondent in spain for several years. one person has been arrested but grim news in terms of the death toll so far? a sad night for barcelona and spain. it is a great

city. i am genuinely gutted that this has happened. as you say, this is coming in, a beneficialfrom the cata la n is coming in, a beneficialfrom the catalan government, 13 confirmed dead and 50 injured. i think that we will have two, over time, see how seriously injured those people are and whether the death toll will rise further. i am also reading that the pa rt further. i am also reading that the part of the city there is in lockdown and police have evacuated bars and cafes. i think that the situation is currently ongoing and fa cts situation is currently ongoing and facts a re situation is currently ongoing and facts are still coming out. tom burridge will stay with us, there are suggestions that there may be another police update at half—past. we will bring you any details that police give us there. you are watching bbc news with continued coverage of a grim day in barcelona, a terrorist attack that has claimed

i3 a terrorist attack that has claimed 13 lives, and left at least 50 people injured. you are watching bbc news. we are, of course, staying with this story throughout here on the bbc. in the wake of that terror attack in barcelona. 0ne the bbc. in the wake of that terror attack in barcelona. one man has been arrested. police have confirmed that in the last hour. let's talk to marry emma garrow, a journalist there and a journalist in terror and security issues. thanks for being with us on the bbc. given what we know about terror attack so far, in van apparently weaving through pedestrians, according to one witness, what are your thoughts about what has gone on here in barcelona ? about what has gone on here in barcelona? hello, firstly, we have to consider that in catalunya, there isa to consider that in catalunya, there is a level four or five terror alert. 0ne

is a level four or five terror alert. one year ago, is a level four or five terror alert. 0ne yearago, isis is a level four or five terror alert. one year ago, isis threatened to attack, among other european cities. it means the threat of a terror attack in barcelona, it was really high, according to spanish national police and catalan police. it is because, due to some key points, it makes catalunya different to other spanish regimes. firstly, we must consider that in catalunya, there are more than 500,000 muslim people and 90% of them come from morocco. compared to 1,800,000 people living in spain. 0f morocco. compared to 1,800,000 people living in spain. of course, it means the risk, according to

numbers, is higher in catalunya. another key point we have to consider is that in catalunya we have a second generation of muslims, living in the region. something that you can find in other parts of spain. that is due to the fact that people from morocco moved to catalu nya people from morocco moved to catalunya earlier this people from morocco moved to catalu nya earlier this part people from morocco moved to catalunya earlier this part of spain. in some places, not in barcelona but in other smaller places, you can find muslim people living in very poor conditions. and some especially young people try and find something to identify themselves. of course, they can fall into this, of course. just to come in here, the catalan police have said several times in the last few

hours that they simply do not know the motive for this attack, and they are not commenting on any motor that the moment, they have said on a number of occasions. people watching will be interested in that you say that barcelona has been on a high level of alert, level four. people watching may therefore think, should there have been greater security? what sort of failure of intelligence has gone on here? has there been a failure of intelligence? if the threat level was so high, and sadly, this has still happened. we have to consider that, first of all, the most important terror attack in europe happened in madrid, at the train station. to be honest, spanish police and catalan police, they have

done great work in the last 15 days. to be honest, people in catalunya and in spain, if you talk to normal people, they do not think that something like this could happen, of course. i speak with my colleagues and friends, nobody thought that something like this could happen in barcelona. so maybe something happened, talking about measures taken either happened, talking about measures ta ken either police, happened, talking about measures taken either police, it's really important to discover which kind of terror attacks we are talking about. if it is an organised attack, or not, orjust one or two people working alone. we have to consider

that, two years ago in 2004, the most important operation against terrorism in barcelona, they discovered that the leader of this operation was a spanish mayor. he was a normal man, and because they we re was a normal man, and because they were fascinated by this kind of religion. it was a fractured organisation leading to isis in barcelona. the risk, in this way, wasn't so high. so it's really important to discover which is behind this attack in barcelona. thank you for your thoughts. a

journalist based in barcelona, specialising on terrorist issues. you're watching the bbc news special. police have said they are dealing with an ongoing terrorist attack. a van has ploughed into pedestrians in one of the busiest tourist areas of the city. the catalan government officials have said that 13 people have been killed, at least 50 injured. it happened in the busy tourist district or las ramblas. it is a major thoroughfare are particularly popular with tourists because of bars and restaurants. police have confirmed that one man has been

arrested, and witnesses have spoken about hundreds of people running down the streets, some hid in shops. we spoke to one man who was sheltering in dutch auction —— in a church with 80 other people. reports that two armed men had been holding hostages in a bar but police have said that is not accurate and nobody is being held anywhere. we can get some international reaction to this terrorist attack. speaking in london, theresa may said her thoughts are with the victims of that terrible attack. she simply united kingdom stands with spain against terror. president trump said that the united states condemned the attack in barcelona and will do what ever business of surrey —— whatever

is necessary ever business of surrey —— whatever is necessary one woman ever business of surrey —— whatever is necessary one woman in barcelona described the chaotic atmosphere as the incident unfolded a few hours ago. complete confusion. the police or —— ordered us to close restau ra nts. or —— ordered us to close restaurants. you are panicking and do not know how to react. we have closed the buildings. doors are bolted. nobody can get out. it is com plete bolted. nobody can get out. it is complete panic. we do not know what has happened. 0n the television we can see the crash but we do not know any more than that. that was one young woman speaking to the spanish media. we have been talking to a british man in the city and the discrete sheltering with other people at the nearby bakery. we were

ina large, people at the nearby bakery. we were in a large, open market area, off las ramblas when a very large number of people ran into the market. big wave. are lots of screaming and shouting. we ran into the bakery with four, five other people, upstairs. hunkered down. ban enormous amount of people went through the market. coming from england it was remaining me of what happened in london. we were very concerned. a lady said she heard gunshots. we didn't know what was going on. a second wave came through. a lot more screaming and shouting, followed by armed police who seem to be sweeping the area,

looking very cautiously. and then they disappeared along one of the many they disappeared along one of the ma ny alleyways they disappeared along one of the many alleyways off the market area. we sat for 30, 45 minutes. sirens, screaming. a few other waves of people from directions. a lot of confusion. and then we saw the pictures on twitter, the incident on las ramblas. the place went quiet. but everybody has been evacuated away from las ramblas. that was a british man, on holiday in barcelona telling us about his experiences. we are going to be speaking to a lot more people who have witnessed what has happened over the last few hours. but before we talk to more

people, we have this line from a local newspaper... it is reporting that one of the attackers has died ina that one of the attackers has died in a shoot out with police. this is coming from a local newspaper. we are trying to get more clarity. but reuters has picked up on that. one of the local newspapers saying that one of the attackers has died in a shoot out with police. we were expecting another briefing from the authorities, possibly the police, possibly the president but we were expecting that as, at half past this hour. we may get that information. but something has been picked up on by the local newspaper, that one of the attackers has died. we will get clarity on that. i have been talking to an american tourist, kevin, and

he was having lunch at a nearby cafe, where the van hit pedestrians. we are here on honeymoon. we were eating at the market near las ramblas. and at the corner of that market, as we were eating, suddenly a crowd of hundreds of people came running towards us. knocking over ta bles running towards us. knocking over tables and just real panic. people running. and could you understand what was happening, did anyone know? not at all. it was confusing but

obviously people were extremely panicked. we started running as well. they were just ploughing into anyone, and as we started running out of the market that because on to —— put us onto las ramblas, where the crash had happened. we ran out of the market, into people laying on the street, a lot of casualties. and the street, a lot of casualties. and the first first responders were coming to the scene. and what work people saying? i have spoken to a lot of people, some talked about panic, some talked about confusion. what did people think was going on? the people who have been out there

when it happened were crying. just standing on the street, weeping. as with keynote, —— we came out, someone with keynote, —— we came out, someone said they hit all the people. it was very confusing because you have a lot of activity happening on las ramblas, the police coming from the north side, huge crowds from that side... also running from where the accident had just happened. and the police with assault rifles swooped the area, started searching. everybody was panicked about which way we should go. it didn't seem clear in any direction. and you said you had

chosen barcelona for you honeymoon. did you have any conversations as a couple about where you wanted to go, where you felt comparable? was this something you thought about when planning? previously, we were in london and stockholm, and the next destination after a few —— here is paris. these are high—profile european cities where these things can happen. but i guess you just hope it is not going to happen to the people that you love. try to live your life. of course. and how are you feeling? have you managed to get away? a sense the authorities are in control? what is your feeling

about being there now? we were locked down about 20 metres from the final crash site. we could see all the activity, people hiding, armed police around. they didn't want anyone to flee the area. they wanted to keep the streets clear. a tense 90 minutes. police helicopters overhead. police with rifles, running and shouting. eventually, they said the area was clear. they ran us out. but this city, it is still very tense. metro is shut. no traffic near placa de catalunya.

people cannot take the bus, metro home. we are doing a 6km walk home now. kevin, there. speaking to me about two hours ago. on honeymoon. shaken up. caught in that attack. weekend a some more thoughts from our correspondent. monitoring events. you were other correspondent in madrid for some time. what have you got? still waiting for that official briefing? the latest lane is coming from the biggest newspaper in catalonia. they have said in the last 15 minutes that one of those responsible for running people down has died, in an interchange of

shots. i am translating this directly from spanish. an exchange of gunfire, at a place... directly from spanish. an exchange of gunfire, ata place... iam looking on google. to the west of barcelona. basically, a suburb. that is coming from one of the catalonia newspapers. suggesting that one of the attackers has died. were still waiting for this briefing to get under way. and it is interesting, one of the people driving the van... that is one of the things that we do not know, how many people were inside the vehicle? implying that it was more than one person. this is coming out of her pretty trustworthy catalonian newspaper. they are going to have press on the groud, more than most. you would expect the

information to be more trustworthy than other sources. 0ne information to be more trustworthy than other sources. one of the national newspapers for spain have actually named the guy arrested, in connection, with the attack. the suggestion that he had moroccan origins, but was legally resident in spain. those are the latest lines from spanish news. senior representatives of the spanish government are on the way to barcelona. cancelling holidays, and we think that we are going to speak to the head of the catalonian government. catalonia has a very devolved government, and it is

interesting actually looking at twitter, even tweeting in english. that gives you a sense of how international barcelona is. tonnes of tourists. messages in spanish, catalonian and english. thank you. 0ur correspondent who has been following this. a lot of international reaction. picking up on that point, barcelona is such an international city. and so many responses from european capitals. the german chancellor angela merkel has condemned what she has described asa has condemned what she has described as a revolting a tack, thinking with profound sadness of the victims of this revolting attack. solidarity and friendship with the spanish people. that was from germany. we

have also heard from the french president macron, saying that france remains united and determined. he said it was a tragic attack and his thoughts were with the victims. similar thoughts from theresa may, pledging help. she said that the united kingdom stands with spain. reaction from many european capitals. the us secretary of state rex tillerson has been responding to the attack as well. this is what he had to say. we offer condolences to the loss of life and injuries that have occurred to so many innocent people yet again. we will continue to monitor the situation and we stand ready to assist one force and

national security in spain. consulates at spain and the international team are currently assisting americans in spain affected by these events. we ask citizens to know your loved ones you are safe. terrorists should know that we are determined to find you and bring you to justice. rex tillerson, the american secretary of state, bringing reaction to what we have witnessed over the last few hours. and some reaction to what are correspondent has said, the reports from spanish media. referencing some images that have been circulating, we canjust images that have been circulating, we can just show you one of those images. we have had access to this and this has just been released by spanish police. spanish police say

this is the man alleged to have rented the van used to have killed a a significant number of people. this is the man alleged to have rented the van, used to mow down people in las ramblas. the police have said that he is a suspect. this image has been released by spanish police and they said that this is the man who rented the van, the van swerved to mow down people. the catalonian government has said that 13 have died, at least 50 injured. that statistic is only from the catalonian government, it could be that those injured have been taken toa number of that those injured have been taken to a number of hospitals across the region. we have not heard anything

from the hospitals, it could be that an awful what emerges from other sources. but the catalonian government has said that the death toll stands at 13, at least 50 injured. we have been talking to a large number of eyewitnesses over the last few hours. another was patricia from somerset. she was in the area when the attack began. patricia from somerset. she was in the area when the attack beganlj was just walking to placa de catalu nya, to go was just walking to placa de catalunya, to go to burger king. we heard a crash. thought it was a bomb. we hid under tables. held up in till they let us out. how long we re in till they let us out. how long were you in for? it was probably a

couple of hours. and the police escorted us in groups. what was going through your mind? just happy to be alive. we were worried that they were going to get in. happy to be safe. that was a british tourist, who witnessed the events that barcelona. i have also been speaking to an american tourist, he described the moment he realised something was wrong. hi. this afternoon, i came in ona wrong. hi. this afternoon, i came in on a flight and i was in a taxi, coming on to las ramblas. possibly just a block from my hotel. i was looking at the boulevard, everybody was shopping. and then i heard this

group of people scream, at the same time. you just do not think about this, naturally. iwould time. you just do not think about this, naturally. i would to my left hand side and i could see a white van, and it was going, i thought it was maybe just somebody working, driving, service vehicle. but i realised that it was going entirely too fast, it looked to me like he was going left to right, hitting people at stands where they were shopping. people werejust people at stands where they were shopping. people were just screaming and running. my taxi stopped. immediately we knew what was going on. we waited for several seconds and my taxi driverjust after saying oh my god. i was in shock. we turned

round the corner. i was literally at my hotel. i ran inside. everybody was running into any space they could find safety. running into the hotel and screaming. i turned round. people were starting to run the other way. the hotel staff put me behind the desk. at that point, it just seemed surreal. then they got us all together into a ballroom. that was just off the entrance. to me... that didn't feel safe. nobody was armed to protect the people. i left the room, and they gave me a room key. ithought left the room, and they gave me a room key. i thought that i would rather be one person in one room rather be one person in one room rather than one person with hundreds

of others. and i am looking out of the hotel and i can see everybody looking out of windows, wondering what now? in terms of what you are going to do next, you are having to base your action on watching television, social media ? base your action on watching television, social media? do you speak the language? do you feel cut off? i do speak spanish. and more than anything, when you say that and i turned the corner... i do not know what i was thinking. maybe people got out the way! but then i looked, andi got out the way! but then i looked, and ijust got out the way! but then i looked, and i just saw this woman on the ground, blood... i just and i just saw this woman on the ground, blood... ijust thought this is going to be really bad. apparently, i am watching the bbc just now and apparently somebody is holed up nearby. i am just going to

stay in this room for the evening. i do not think anywhere i need to go that bad. after what we have seen in various european countries over the last few months, any qualms about being in barcelona? it is an interesting question. it was in the back of my mind when i arrived. not necessarily barcelona, but it was in the back of my mind. thinking is this safe? you never think it is going to happen to you, that going to see that. you think you're just going to say this on the news. when you do... it isjust so going to say this on the news. when you do... it is just so surreal. going to say this on the news. when you do... it isjust so surreal. you cannot even process it. obviously, a lwa ys cannot even process it. obviously, always the question about whether people should stay home. but life goes on. it was definitely the most

unbelievable thing i have ever seen in my life. that was an american to rest —— tourist, making reference to watching television, that people we re watching television, that people were being held up in a bar. but the police have categorically say that is not true. it was circulating but the police have said it was not the case. another american tourist was ina shop case. another american tourist was in a shop when the attack happened and described the stampede as people ran. i was trying to make a purchase, and they said nobody can leave. then they said if you want to, you can. bad idea. people were scared, running towards my general direction. i did a 180 turn. ran

into a random apartment block. block of flats. ran up some stairs. i thought it was probably not a good idea to be close to any windows. stayed on the ground floor. we were waiting for the police, a number of people scared for over an hour. eventually they told us that we could leave, we walked. it was a pretty generally horrible experience. that was one of the many american tourists we have been talking to. and a british man spoke to me, he was in the middle of the city when the attack began. to me, he was in the middle of the city when the attack beganm to me, he was in the middle of the city when the attack began. it is a beautiful sunny day and las ramblas is in the heart of the city. it is jam—packed. i was about to sit down and have something to eat. the next

thing, seconds later, the crashing noise. the whole street. screaming. everybody started running. i started to run in the same direction. families, screaming. kids out of prams. and after seconds, police officers were out. when i arrived in the city yesterday, i noticed the heavy police presence. after literally seconds, guns out, ambulances and fire engines. at the top of the street, vans. i tried to get into a shop. people were screaming. i spoke to a shopkeeper and he said he thought he had seen a van driven into the crowd, five, six seriously injured. at that point that ambulances and fire brigade

we re that ambulances and fire brigade were on the scene, and police with machine guns. people were panicking. we were pushed back and pushed back again. the police are absolutely everywhere at the moment. that was a british man speaking to me, a british man speaking to me, a british lawyer in barcelona. we're going to keep you up—to—date with the story, the dreadful news about another terrorist attacked in europe. 0ne another terrorist attacked in europe. one man has been arrested after a van ploughed into pedestrians at las ramblas in barcelona. the catalonian government has said 13 have died, at least 50 injured. and reports across the spanish media of one attacker being killed in a shoot out with police.

continuing coverage here on bbc news. hello, i'm philippa thomas and you are watching 0utside source. terror on the streets of barcelona is a van ploughs into a crowd in the popular tourist area of las ramblas. the cata la n tourist area of las ramblas. the catalan government says 13 people are dead. the police shouted at eve ryo ne are dead. the police shouted at everyone just to run. are dead. the police shouted at everyonejust to run. there are dead. the police shouted at everyone just to run. there was a really loud kind of crashing noise. imean, i really loud kind of crashing noise. i mean, i didn't stop to look back. it was just an immediate stampede in the opposite direction. catalan police confirmed they are treating it as police confirmed they are treating itasa police confirmed they are treating it as a terror attack. within the last hour, they have made an arrest. they dismissed earlier reports that two gunmen were holed up in a bar in a city. —— in the city.