A truck hit and killed at least 13 people strolling down La Rambla from Barcelona, Spain. The author of this attack was later entrenched in a nearby bar. According to the police, this is a new terrorist attack.
It's a "terrorist attack," said a policeman using a megaphone. Meanwhile the authorities evacuated the neighboring Plaza Cataluña, and cleared a perimeter of 200 meters.
The driver of the vehicle, white, fled on foot after the crash, according to Efe sources close to the investigation.
There were several scenes of panic in the place, with people running very frightened, sheltering in shops and portals.
Police and emergency health teams deployed an extensive device in the area.
According to the newspaper "El País", the road has been cordoned off and nearby establishments have been evacuated.
The regional government of Catalonia recommended avoiding to leave the public road in the area of the Plaza de Catalunya for this "serious incident."
The Catalan authorities also called for the closure of the Metro (train) and railway stations in that square, in the heart of the Catalan capital, where several ambulances were moved.
La Rambla, a wide street of shops and stalls that runs through the center of Barcelona, is one of the places most frequented by tourists. People drive through a central pedestrian promenade and cars along the sides.
The hit occurred at the peak of the tourist season in Barcelona, a city on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea which is one of the main destinations in Europe and receives about 11 million visitors each year.