Tourists evacuated from Barcelona attraction in terror alert
Barcelona’s most iconic attraction the Sagrada Familia was stormed by police yesterday following reports of a van carrying a suspect package.
The nearest metro station, shops and local roads were closed, while tourists and locals were advised to stay indoors.
The Catalan police force, Mossos d’Esquadra, tweeted: "We have activated the service TEDAX to make checks with a van parked in the surroundings of the Sagrada Familia."
It confirmed the bomb squad was making checks around the Anton Gaudi-designed cathedral as part of an anti-terror operation.
The Sagrada Familia is known to have been one of the intended targets of the terrorists who carried out attacks on Las Ramblas in Barcelona and in the nearby seaside resort of Cambrils last month.
No one was arrested as a result of yesterday’s anti-terror swoop
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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