Xi offers condolences to Spain
He sends letter denouncing terror after two deadly vehicle attacks
President Xi Jinping has written to King Felipe of Spain to express his condolences over the terror attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils that killed at least 14 people on Thursday and Friday.
In his letter, Xi mourned the dead and expressed sympathy on behalf of China to the bereaved families and the injured.
“China is firmly opposed to all forms of terrorism and stands ready to work with the international community, including Spain, to strengthen anti-terror cooperation so as to jointly safeguard regional and world peace and stability,” he wrote.
Spanish police said after the attacks that they had identified a cell of jihadists operating in the northern Spanish region of Catalonia.
The most serious incident occurred in Barcelona on Thursday when a man drove a van 500 meters down the city’s most famous boulevard, Las Ramblas, killing at least 13 people and injuring more than 130.
The street was full of tourists, and the victims were from around the world. Three of the injured were Chinese; two from Taiwan were being treated at a hospital, while one from Hong Kong received minor injuries.
Premier Li Keqiang expressed condolences on Friday to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy over the attacks.
Unlike in London, where posts have been placed between popular pedestrian areas and roads following two vehicle attacks, there was nothing to prevent the attacker from driving freely down the wide pedestrian zone, veering to the left and right in search of victims.
Police arrested two people but were still searching for the driver, identified by authorities as Moussa Oukabir, an 18-yearold Moroccan. Police arrested his brother, Driss Oukabir, 28, who they said had rented the van, in Ripoll near the border with France. Oukabir told police he had not rented the van and that his identity papers had been stolen.
Early Friday, a car was driven into a crowd in the coastal town of Cambrils, killing one person. The driver and four passengers were shot dead by police. Five bystanders and one police officer were injured. Police said the men were wearing fake bomb vests.
The Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, the inspiration for recent vehicle attacks in London, Stockholm, Berlin and Nice, claimed responsibility for the attacks but did not give any information connecting the individuals involved in the attacks to the group.
Spanish Grand Slam champions Rafael Nadal and Garbine Muguruza were shaken and saddened by Thursday’s attack in Barcelona that left more than a dozen people dead and 100 injured.
“Shattered by what has happened in Barcelona! All my support for the families affected and the city,” Nadal tweeted.
Nadal won the title this year at Barcelona as well as in Madrid, Monte Carlo and his 15th Grand Slam crown at the French Open in June.
A driver deliberately slammed a van into crowds on Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s most popular street in a daylight attack claimed by the Islamic State group.
Police are treating it as a terrorist attack.
Sixth-ranked Muguruza, who captured the Wimbledon title last month, learned of the incident during a twohour rain delay in her 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3) victory over American Madison Keys at the ATP/WTA Cincinnati.
“I couldn’t believe it. I have been so many times to that place, so many times. It’s like a main street with a lot of shops and people,” Muguruza said.
“I was very surprised because you always hear about what happened in Paris. But now, I’ve been so many times to this place, it’s like my home.
“I’ve been there so many times. So it really shocked me.
“I’m just sad for the people that were there. I feel like if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, it can happen anywhere.”
David Ferrer, who also advanced to the quarterfinals in Cincinnati, tweeted after his match: “All my solidarity with the people affected in the attack in Barcelona, Very sad all it happened.”
And Ramos-Vinolas tweeted ahead of his meeting with Nadal: “Great pain when seeing what is happening in #Barcelona. A part of me is today with you. A hug to all affected families.”