Death toll from Spain attacks rises to 16
MADRID – The number of people killed in twin vehicle attacks in Spain last week rose to 16 yesterday, local authorities in Barcelona said.
“This morning a 51-yearold German woman died after being treated in a critical condition in hospital,” said a statement from the region’s civil defense.
The attacks on Las Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona and in the seaside resort of Cambrils left around 120 wounded.
The woman who died on Sunday was hurt when a man ploughed a van through crowds of tourists on Spain’s most famous street on Aug. 17 – an attack that was claimed by the Islamic State group.
Hours later, a car sped into Cambrils some 120 kilometers south, hitting people before crashing into a police vehicle.
The five occupants of the Audi A3 jumped out and went on a stabbing spree, killing a woman, before they were shot dead by police.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people marched through the heart of Barcelona yesterday in a defiant display of unity against terrorism, joined by Spain’s King Felipe VI – who nonetheless was the target of jeers by Catalan separatists.
The municipal police said in a Twitter post that half a million people participated in the march to commemorate last week’s deadly vehicle rampage, though the figures were not confirmed by other sources.
People who tended the victims of the attack were given pride of place at the front of the procession behind a large white-and-black banner that read “No tinc por” – Catalan for “I’m not afraid.”
They included uniformed police officers, doctors in their white coats, firefighters wearing their helmets and residents and shop owners who rushed to help after a van struck people on the Las Ramblas boulevard, as well as taxi drivers who transported people free.
“There were very difficult moments,” said Montse Rovira, the city hall’s head of social emergencies, who helped people who were lost or who could not find their loved ones.
“No to Islamophobia” and “The best response: Peace” were among the signs on display.
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