Greece Condemns Barcelona Van Attack

UPDATE: The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Barcelona terror attack

Greece condemned the attack that took place in Las Ramblas, Barcelona, on Thursday, August 17, during which a van struck pedestrians.

The official death toll of the van attack stands at 13 and at least 50 have been injured, according to Catalonia’s interior minister, Joaquim Forn. Local Police have confirmed that the incident was a terror attack and two suspects have been arrested.

“We strongly condemn the bloody terrorist attack that has just took place in Barcelona,” the Greek Foreign Ministry said in an announcement.

The Greek Embassy in Madrid and the Greek Consulate in Barcelona are in constant contact with the Spanish Authorities for the provision of consular assistance.

“So far, according to official information from the Spanish authorities, a Greek citizen (female) is among the injured,” the ministry said.

According to reports, Spanish police later killed five suspected terrorists in the town of Cambrils to stop what they say was another planned vehicle attack. Authorities said that the men were linked to the first attack.

SETE: ‘Sadness and anger for a cycle of paranoid violence’

Located in the center of Barcelona, Las Ramblas is a popular tourist area.

The president of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), Yiannis Retsos, tweeted his concern regarding the attack. “Deep sorrow for the attack in the tourist “heart” of Barcelona. Sadness and anger for a cycle of paranoid violence that seems to have no end.”

Facebook has activated its safety check tool to enable people in Barcelona to let their friends and relatives know that they are safe.

In recent months, a number of terror-related car attacks have taken place in Europe. More than 100 people have been killed in similar attacks in Nice, Berlin, London and Stockholm.