Emotional tourists and locals return to Las Ramblas

Barcelona’s famous Las Ramblas walkway has quietly reopened to the public this morning, after a van rampage that killed 13 and wounded more than 100.

Police closed down the city center yesterday evening, after the van zigzagged down the packed Ramblas before the driver escaped.

This morning, emotional residents and tourists were allowed past police lines and slowly trickled back to their homes and hotels.

Lawyer and University of Glasgow rector Aamer Anwar, who is in Barcelona, said a heavy police presence remained on the streets.

‘It’s huge,’ he said. ‘Literally you can see every 15 to 20 metres there are armed police officers, there are vans, police cars at every corner. So there is an extremely high police presence everywhere.

Barcelona’s famous Las Ramblas walkway has quietly reopened to the public this morning, after a van rampage that killed 13 and wounded more than 100. In this image a couple can be seen comforting each other as they pause to reflect for the victims

Police closed down the city center yesterday evening, after the van zigzagged down the packed Ramblas before the driver escaped. A woman (pictured) wipes her eye as people gather in Las Ramblas

Police closed down the city center yesterday evening, after the van zigzagged down the packed Ramblas before the driver escaped. A woman (pictured) wipes her eye as people gather in Las Ramblas

This morning, emotional residents and tourists were allowed past police lines and slowly trickled back to their homes and hotels. The city center remained under heavy surveillance. In this image a woman covers her mouth as she mourns the victims

This morning, emotional residents and tourists were allowed past police lines and slowly trickled back to their homes and hotels. The city center remained under heavy surveillance. In this image a woman covers her mouth as she mourns the victims

Lawyer and University of Glasgow rector Aamer Anwar, who is in Barcelona, said a heavy police presence remained on the streets. Staff were seen preparing to open their shop this morning

Lawyer and University of Glasgow rector Aamer Anwar, who is in Barcelona, said a heavy police presence remained on the streets. Staff were seen preparing to open their shop this morning

‘There was even when I was arrived, but now it’s swamped with emergency services.’

He added: ‘Life seems to be going back very quickly to normality.

‘Shop owners are opening up, stalls are back out on the street, but I’m conscious that there are two types of people here.

‘There are those that saw what happened, there were those who were right in the heart of it, like myself, and then there were others who were tourists who had no clue.

‘I was conscious of that yesterday when I was in Las Ramblas, when there were people like myself who were in shock, people upset, people crying, but then there was people who had no idea what had gone on, laughing and getting on with life and whatever. So there was mixed emotions.’ 

A demonstration that will include a minute of silence honoring the victims was announced by public officials for Friday at noon at the Plaza Catalunya, next to the top of the Ramblas, where the deadly attack began. 

'It's huge,' Mr Anwar, who is in Barcelona, said. 'Literally you can see every 15 to 20 metres there are armed police officers, there are vans, police cars at every corner. So there is an extremely high police presence everywhere.' One resilient local was seen jogging next to armed police in Las Ramblas 

‘It’s huge,’ Mr Anwar, who is in Barcelona, said. ‘Literally you can see every 15 to 20 metres there are armed police officers, there are vans, police cars at every corner. So there is an extremely high police presence everywhere.’ One resilient local was seen jogging next to armed police in Las Ramblas 

A demonstration that will include a minute of silence honoring the victims was announced by public officials for Friday at noon at the Plaza Catalunya, next to the top of the Ramblas, where the deadly attack began. Pictured, tourists and locals wandering along the famous Barcelona street 

A demonstration that will include a minute of silence honoring the victims was announced by public officials for Friday at noon at the Plaza Catalunya, next to the top of the Ramblas, where the deadly attack began. Pictured, tourists and locals wandering along the famous Barcelona street 

Mr Anwar said the local reaction had been one of 'shock', but commended the efforts of the emergency services and the 'sea of humanity' that had assisted the wounded at the scene. Pictured, Catalonian regional policemen patrol Las Ramblas

Mr Anwar said the local reaction had been one of ‘shock’, but commended the efforts of the emergency services and the ‘sea of humanity’ that had assisted the wounded at the scene. Pictured, Catalonian regional policemen patrol Las Ramblas

Mr Anwar said: 'It's just a case of shock. But also many Spanish people have been aware of terrorist attacks in the past and the emergency response yesterday was tremendous.' In this image a woman displays a candle next to the first flowers and a message to the victims

Mr Anwar said: ‘It’s just a case of shock. But also many Spanish people have been aware of terrorist attacks in the past and the emergency response yesterday was tremendous.’ In this image a woman displays a candle next to the first flowers and a message to the victims

Tourists pull their bags of luggage along Las Ramblas following yesterday's devastating terrorist attack

Tourists pull their bags of luggage along Las Ramblas following yesterday’s devastating terrorist attack

Mr Anwar said the local reaction had been one of ‘shock’, but commended the efforts of the emergency services and the ‘sea of humanity’ that had assisted the wounded at the scene.

He said: ‘It’s just a case of shock. But also many Spanish people have been aware of terrorist attacks in the past and the emergency response yesterday was tremendous.

‘Literally within 30 seconds, hundreds of uniformed police officers with guns, plain clothes, and fire brigade, ambulances, did a tremendous job of clearing out the area, running in the direction.

‘There is almost a spirit here that Barcelona will carry on. It seems to be the approach that people are adopting, that they won’t be divided, they won’t allow these people to succeed.

‘What I saw yesterday was a sea of humanity. People – black and white, Asian, gay, straight, people who were Muslim, non-Muslim, every race, creed, religion represented on this street.

Police are still hunting the teenager thought to have been behind the Barcelona terror attack which killed 13 and injured more than 100 people. An armed police officer stands on a street in Las Ramblas

Police are still hunting the teenager thought to have been behind the Barcelona terror attack which killed 13 and injured more than 100 people. An armed police officer stands on a street in Las Ramblas

Moussa Oukabir, 18, is believed to have stolen his older brother's identity documents to rent the white Renault van which later ploughed into pedestrians on a busy street popular with tourists. Police mingled with locals on Las Ramblas 

Moussa Oukabir, 18, is believed to have stolen his older brother’s identity documents to rent the white Renault van which later ploughed into pedestrians on a busy street popular with tourists. Police mingled with locals on Las Ramblas 

The teenager, said to be a Spanish national of Moroccan heritage, had previously written about 'killing infidels' in a chilling online post. Catalonian regional policemen patrol Las Ramblas

The teenager, said to be a Spanish national of Moroccan heritage, had previously written about ‘killing infidels’ in a chilling online post. Catalonian regional policemen patrol Las Ramblas

A touching message a number of candles was left near to where 13 people were killed yesterday in Barcelona 

A touching message a number of candles was left near to where 13 people were killed yesterday in Barcelona 

Mourners also left bunches of flowers and red roses in honour of the victims of yesterday's terror attack 

Mourners also left bunches of flowers and red roses in honour of the victims of yesterday’s terror attack 

‘And that’s probably exactly the reason why these people attacked it – because it’s what they hate.’   

Police are still hunting the teenager thought to have been behind the Barcelona terror attack which killed 13 and injured more than 100 people.

Moussa Oukabir, 18, is believed to have stolen his older brother’s identity documents to rent the white Renault van which later ploughed into pedestrians on a busy street popular with tourists.

The teenager, said to be a Spanish national of Moroccan heritage, had previously written about ‘killing infidels’ in a chilling online post.

His brother Driss Oukabir, 28, was initially named as a suspect but later handed himself to a police station in Ripoll, a town to the north of Barcelona, not far from the French border.

The older brother, whose identity document is said to have been found in the van, was reportedly arrested after he told police his brother took his ID documents. 

Horrifying pictures and video from the scene of the Las Ramblas attack show armed police and paramedics rushing around the busy promenade in the centre of the city, as victims lie hurt in the street. A man speaks with police officers on Las Ramblas

Horrifying pictures and video from the scene of the Las Ramblas attack show armed police and paramedics rushing around the busy promenade in the centre of the city, as victims lie hurt in the street. A man speaks with police officers on Las Ramblas

Catalan authorities are also today confirming that the five suspects killed in a police shootout in the seaside resort of Cambrils had plowed down pedestrians and police in a car attack and were wearing fake bomb belts. A couple stand next to a shop on Las Ramblas

Catalan authorities are also today confirming that the five suspects killed in a police shootout in the seaside resort of Cambrils had plowed down pedestrians and police in a car attack and were wearing fake bomb belts. A couple stand next to a shop on Las Ramblas

Catalonia's interior minister, Joaquim Forn, tells Onda Cero radio that the suspects in Cambrils were driving in an Audi 3 and began plowing down people when they reached a populated area near the boardwalk

Catalonia’s interior minister, Joaquim Forn, tells Onda Cero radio that the suspects in Cambrils were driving in an Audi 3 and began plowing down people when they reached a populated area near the boardwalk

A police officer patrols on Las Ramblas following yesterday's terrorist attack

A police officer patrols on Las Ramblas following yesterday’s terrorist attack

Catalan authorities are also today confirming that the five suspects killed in a police shootout in the seaside resort of Cambrils had plowed down pedestrians and police in a car attack and were wearing fake bomb belts.

The attack early Friday in Cambrils came hours after a white van mowed down tourists and locals in the popular Las Ramblas promenade in Barcelona.

Catalonia’s interior minister, Joaquim Forn, tells Onda Cero radio that the suspects in Cambrils were driving in an Audi 3 and began plowing down people when they reached a populated area near the boardwalk. 

A police car was damaged and an officer was among the six people injured.

Armed police officers check a man's papers on a street in Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Armed police officers check a man’s papers on a street in Las Ramblas, Barcelona

ISIS claimed responsibility for the atrocity on the city's famous promenade, Las Ramblas

ISIS claimed responsibility for the atrocity on the city’s famous promenade, Las Ramblas

Police launched 'Operation Cage' to capture those responsible for the attack and also denied early reports that hostages were being held in a bar in the city

Police launched ‘Operation Cage’ to capture those responsible for the attack and also denied early reports that hostages were being held in a bar in the city

Forn says the suspects killed in a subsequent shootout with police were wearing fake bomb belts. He says the belts were very well made, and that authorities only determined they were phony after a controlled explosion.

Horrifying pictures and video from the scene of the Las Ramblas attack show armed police and paramedics rushing around the busy promenade in the centre of the city, as victims lie hurt in the street.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the atrocity on the city’s famous promenade, Las Ramblas.

Police launched ‘Operation Cage’ to capture those responsible for the attack and also denied early reports that hostages were being held in a bar in the city. 

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