Barcelona security chiefs rejected calls last year to install barriers at Las Ramblas to protect pedestrians from an attack by terrorists in a vehicle, it emerged today.
The Catalan interior ministry and police chiefs recommended that Barcelona City Hall install massive bollards to protect the boulevard – following similar attacks in Berlin and Nice.
The interior ministry recommended that ‘strategic points which could be targets for terrorist attacks are isolated either with physical objects or with police officers.’
Barcelona security chiefs rejected calls last year to install barriers at Las Ramblas to protect pedestrians from an attack by terrorists in a vehicle, it emerged today. Barcelona mayor Ada Colau (pictured) said ‘protocols were revised’ following the meeting with police chiefs
The City Hall’s Local Security Board met to discuss the proposed measures with the local police force the Mossos d’Esquadra, the National Police, the Civil Guard and the fire service.
But they opted instead to increase police presence on Las Ramblas and other vulnerable areas.
This was despite Spain being on level 4 terror alert, one below the maximum of 5.
And it came in spite of reports the CIA had specifically warned that Las Ramblas could be a target for an attack.
The Catalan interior ministry and police chiefs recommended that Barcelona City Hall install massive bollards to protect the boulevard – following attacks using vehicles in Berlin and Nice
Barcelona mayor Ada Colau said ‘protocols were revised’ following the meeting and measures taken including increased police patrols and prohibiting vehicles during some major events.
She said: ‘100 per cent security does not exist, especially when there are people ready to carry out atrocities with very rudimentary means.’
A source at City Hall told La Vanguardia newspaper: ‘You cannot put bollards at every site and you must take into account other factors, such as whether it would allow access to emergency services and cleaners.’
The van which plowed into pedestrians killing 14 and injuring more than 100 entered from the street by the main square Plaza de Catalunya.
The interior ministry recommended that ‘strategic points which could be targets for terrorist attacks are isolated either with physical objects or with police officers’
Today police vans blocked that entrance as thousands again walked up and down the famous boulevard.
The criticisms are similar to those made following the attack at London Bridge in June.
Authorities in London ruled out measures to install barriers on the bridge just 24 hours before three terrorists drove a van at crowds of people.
Barriers were installed on the bridge shortly after the attack which left six dead and 48 injured.
Meanwhile a woman injured in the attack in Cambrils this morning has died in hospital, bringing the total number of dead in the Spanish attacks to 14.
A fourth person was arrested over the terror attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils, police said today.