No Indonesian victims reported in Barcelona van attack

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed here on Friday that there was no Indonesian among the victims of the van attack in Barcelona, Spain.

"There is no Indonesian among the dead or the injured victims," Director of Indonesian Citizens Protection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lalu Muhammad Iqbal stated here on Friday.

Iqbal said that after the van attack took place in Barcelonas famous Las Ramblas tourist area, the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid had contacted the local authority of Barcelona, Indonesian diaspora group, and Indonesian communities in Spain.

Data from the Foreign Ministry revealed that 1,297 Indonesians reside in Spain, of which 120 live in Barcelona.

The Indonesian Embassy in Madrid, Spain, has advised Indonesian citizens in Spain to exercise caution following the deadly van attack.

A travel advisory issued by the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid on Thursday urged all Indonesians citizens in Spain, especially in Barcelona, or those planning to visit Spain to be on alert and remain cautious following the van attack.

Prior to their travel in Spain, Indonesian citizens are also urged to follow the current situation in their destination and avoid crowded places.

The embassy also urged Indonesian citizens in Spain to always carry along their identity cards when they step outside their houses.

The Indonesian Embassy in Madrid has kept its communication lines open for consultation and information regarding the situation in particular places in Spain.

Indonesians citizens can contact Indonesian Embassys hotline number +34 619 31 23 80 or its address on Calle de Agastia, 65, 28043, Madrid, or call on +34 914130294.

Some 13 people were killed and at least 50 others injured following a terror attack in the city of Barcelona on Thursday afternoon.

The attack took place at around 5 p.m. local time when a man, described as slim and in his mid-20s drove a white van at high speed for several hundred meters in Barcelonas famous Las Ramblas tourist area, attempting to hit as many people as possible.

Witnesses described seeing a white van speeding along the pedestrian area, deliberately targeting people, knocking many to the floor and sending others fleeing for cover in shops and cafes.

The Spanish police have described it as a terror attack. The police have also confirmed to have arrested a man in connection with the attack.

The man who drove the van into the crowd was identified by the Spanish media as Driss Oukabir. The local media also reported that one of Barcelonas terror attackers died in an exchange of fire with the police.

Las Ramblas is popular among tourists due to its market stalls, bars, and restaurants

Source : ANTARA