by Donald Wood
Last updated: 12:20 AM ET, Fri August 18, 2017
UPDATE: 10:30 a.m. ET 8/18/2017
Travel organizations have denounced the attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils and showed solidarity with Spain.
Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, said: "I am extremely saddened to hear about these callous attacks in Spain, my heart goes out to the victims, their friends and families."
"Barcelona and Cambrils are two beautiful and strong tourist spots. The Travel & Tourism sector offers its full support to all those impacted--both destinations, Spain, and its people--as it is going through these difficult times," Guevara added.
The American Society of Travel Agents also condemned the attacks.
"ASTA is sickened by yesterday's terrorist attacks in Barcelona," president and CEO Zane Kerby said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones in the attacks and the people of Spain as a whole. We are reaching out to our 24 member companies in Spain to offer any assistance we can. We hope and pray that the city and country recover quickly from this tragedy."
UPDATE: 3:25 p.m. ET 8/17/2017
Following the van attack on pedestrians at a tourist hotspot in Barcelona, Spanish police have announced that 12 people were killed and more than 80 wounded, according to Catalonia's regional president.
The AP also reported that police captured two suspects and denied previous reports that gunmen had been held up inside a restaurant. A separate report from BBC.com states that another suspect involved in the attack has been killed in a shootout with police on the outskirts of the city.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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UPDATE: 1:15 p.m. ET 8/17/2017
Following a suspected terrorist attack in Barcelona, The Associated Press has revealed that Spanish police have confirmed fatalities in the incident, but the number of people killed has not been revealed.
The attack took place in Las Ramblas, a popular tourist destination that was filled with visitors at the time of the incident. Police were still looking for the driver of the van after he fled on foot following the attack, according to BBC.com.
The Independent is also reporting that two armed men are reportedly holed up in a Barcelona restaurant and could be holding hostages inside the building. It was unclear if they were associated with the truck attack.
The AP is reporting that United States President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation.
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Original Text
A van crashed into a crowd of people at a popular tourist hotspot in the center of Barcelona Thursday, leaving dozens of people injured.
According to Reuters.com, Spanish police described the incident near Las Ramblas as a massive crash and announced that emergency personnel were on the scene tending to the injured.
The Agence France-Presse announced police believe the attack was terrorism related.
[CALLOUT]
"People in my office saw a van ramming into people on Las Ramblas," witness Steven Turner told BBC.com. "I saw about three or four people lying on the ground. There are lots of ambulances and armed police with assault rifles around now."
Authorities in the area requested the closure of nearby train and metro stations and advised people to avoid Placa de Catalunya. Local news outlets report that the driver of the van got out of the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
Another witness, Aamer Anwar, said the streets were filled with tourists at the time of the incident.
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