The reports about the vehicle ramming incident in Barcelona emerged around 05:00 p.m. local time (15:00 GMT). A white Fiat van reportedly zigzagged 580 yards down the city's La Rambla pedestrian avenue, hitting pedestrians before crashing into a kiosk.
Catalan police confirmed that terrorists had perpetrated the attack. Daesh (ISIS) later claimed responsibility. Catalan interior minister Joaquim Forn confirmed that 13 people have been killed, adding that the number of those injured had soared past 100.
Spanish-language website Sputnik Mundo was able to talk to an employee of Cuatro Naciones hotel, which is located 200 meters from La Rambla avenue.
"In the moment of the attack many people ran into our hotel, they were crying with fear. At that moment it was still not very clear what had actually happened," he said.
The people had to stay for a while in the hotel as police prohibited leaving it. The list of the hotel guests was given to police. The guests who were out were able to get back to their rooms only accompanied by security agents.
The employee of the hotel said that he did not see the attack, however he was able to see the reaction of the witnesses who ran into it: they were in deep shock.
Omer, a salesman at the photo products store located at a five minutes walking distance from the site of the tragedy, told Sputnik that owners have been instantly closing their facilities as the police said that some terrorists were able to escape.
"There were rumors that they were planning another terrorist attack and people were very afraid. What has happened is very, very sad," he said.
Alberto Cortez, a lector at Santa María del Pí Gothic church, located not far from La Rambla avenue, told Sputnik that they tried to let in as many people running from the site of the attack, as possible.
"We heard the sound of sirens, shooting and people shouting. We have taken care of all the people who ran in for shelter in the Basilica. We gave them water and food," he said.
Heavily armed police searching for suspect who fled the scene after ramming van into a crowd of people. #Barcelona #Ramblas pic.twitter.com/gudBNn1MDk
— Defend Europa (@DefendEvropa) 17 августа 2017 г.
The people who ran into the church, he said, filled a half of it, so, there might have been up to 400 people. There were no injured among the escapees. Some were lightly hurt because they fell down while running away. The majority were tourists from various countries.
According to police, over 100 people were injured and 15 are in serious condition. The injured include 26 French, four Australians, three Dutch, and three Greeks and one Chinese. At least 18 nationalities were affected, including Venezuela, Ireland, Peru and Algeria, according to Spain’s civil protection agency.
On Friday, reports emerged that a female Russian citizen was wounded in the terror attack in Barcelona, according to Russia's federal tourism agency (Russiatourism or Rosturism).
"We are still specifying the information, so far the Foreign Ministry's crisis center has information about one female Russian citizen injured," spokesman Evgeny Gayva said.
He specified that the Russian citizen received medical assistance on site without hospitalization.
Russian national Alyona, who has been living in Barcelona for the second year, an owner of a shop on La Rambla, told Sputnik that they also let in many people escaping from the site of the attack. All of them were tourists from various countries.
She did not see the attack but she heard the terrible noise and described her feelings.
"There was a very loud noise, as if many cars have run into each other. The van was zigzagging along the pedestrian mall hitting people. People started screaming and shouting and trying to escape. It was something unthinkable," she told Sputnik.
She further said that many people ran into her shop, they closed it as there were sounds of shooting. The police, she, said, were very helpful, they brought them water and sweets for children. The people were allowed to leave the shop in groups in about two hours after the attack.
Alyona said that while they were running out, they saw that many shops and kiosks were left abandoned with souvenirs and other stuff scattered around. They had to walk back home as local emergencies services closed train and underground stations in the area. However there was no panic, she said. There were a lot of police, who were very friendly to people and acted very professionally.
Hours after the tragedy in Las Ramblas avenue, the Catalan police conducted a raid linked to another attempted car ramming attack, in the coastal town of Cambrils, about 60 miles (96 km) from Barcelona. The attackers attempted to ram into people, but the Audi A3 car reportedly overturned.
Four suspects were killed during the raid, while the fifth, who was injured and arrested, died in custody.
Six civilians and a police officer were also wounded as a result of the events in Cambrils.
