At least 13 people were killed and at least 50 were injured this evening when a van ploughed through Barcelona’s most famous touristic area in Las Ramblas.

A Maltese man living in Barcelona spoke to Lovin Malta about the horrific attack, which is being treated as an act of terrorism. 

Patrick Barbaro Sant, 30, who has been living in Barcelona for eight years, was in Sitges when the incident happened, some 30 minutes away from the city. But an hour earlier, he was in the spot where the attack took place, to catch a train. 

“I walk or skate through there every day, whether it’s to go to work, home or go out,” he said. 

“I’m aware that attacks can happen in any city you’re in. You kind of get used to seeing armed police around. But when it happens in the city you live in, it all becomes very real.”

He said he was so shocked by the incident that he couldn’t speak. 

“I just spent two hours on my phone seeing if my friends are ok. Everyone is sharing photos and videos from the scene. When I saw them I just felt really disturbed. It makes me think about the other attacks and shootings taking place all the time. Since the Bataclan attack in Paris I find myself making myself familiar with emergency exists when I go to a concert or an event, something I never did before. Now even more so.”

Chris Muscat Azzopardi, 38, has been living in Barcelona for 10 years. He said a close friend of his was only one second away from getting run over.

“He saw people flying and went back to his office. But if they think for a second they’re going to ruin my way of life they’re bloody wrong. I’m here, with friends having a beer,” he said defiantly, only five minutes away from where the attack took place.

“I just want to go down there with a big poster saying fuck you. As if two or three crazies are going to scare us.”

He said the police were shutting down the city for security reasons. 

“There’s helicopters overhead, ambulances left right and centre,” he added.

According to reports, one of the attackers has already been arrested. 

Charlene Galea who has been working and living in Barcelona for the past year doing ethnographic research said she walked down the same street of the incident yesterday morning at 6am when it was full of people laughing and drunk exiting the clubs. 

“Later that day, when I finished my shift 2.30pm, I was planning to go to one of the side streets at the top of Rambla to this photography shop to fix one of my camera lenses, but instead got caught up taking a coffee and siesta by the beach, without Wifi as always.”

“I had no idea what was going on until my family called me to check on me. The atmosphere by the beach was like nothing had happened. Some of my workmates live in the area as it is so close to my work, some even helped the injured and others in their home.”

Lovin Malta also spoke to Deo Grech and Adrian Spiteri who are on holiday in Barcelona and learnt of the tragic news from friends and family in Malta. 

“We checked CNN on our mobile and saw the news. We rushed back to our hotel and stayed here since then, following all the news. Helicopters are flying around the area. We’re staying only 10 mins away from Las Ramblas,” Grech said. 

“Sirens from ambulances and police cars have broken the peaceful atmosphere we were used to in the past few days,” he added.

Do you live in Barcelona? Contacts us on [email protected] if you have something to share. 

Chris Peregin

Christian is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur who founded Lovin Malta, a new media company dedicated to creating positive impact in society. He is passionate about justice, public finances and finding ways to build a better future.