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Barcelona-van-attack-main_article_image.jpg
AP
World News

Churches condemn 'appalling' Barcelona attack

Church leaders have condemned events in Spain after two terrorist attacks, including a van rampage in Barcelona which left at least 13 people dead.

A white Fiat mounted the pavement and sped into crowds along Las Ramblas, a busy street popular with tourists, shortly after 5pm local time on Thursday. More than 100 people were hurt.

Vil_Music/PA Wire
photo taken with permission from the Twitter feed of @Vil_Music of the scene in Las Ramblas, Barcelona after several people have been injured after a van crashed on a pavement in a popular tourist area of the Spanish city.

John Carrana is a pastor at the International Church of Barcelona. He told Premier members of his congregation were close to the attack there.

"One of the girls in our church, her office window overlooks the area that was attacked. She's safe.

"Another guy in the church lives about two blocks away and he expressed the panic on the streets and what he went through but so far we haven't heard anyone directly from the church involved."

He called the attack shocking and horrifying and something that he has prayed against.

He added: "It's one of those things with the climate of what's happening in Europe and you hear of those types of things happening in other cities, you wonder if it will ever happen in your city. I was praying and hoping that it won't."

Rev Canon Geoff Johnston Archdeacon for Spain at the Diocese of Europe told Premier local churches will be more than willing to help.

"They will  be available if people want to talk to them, churches will be open for prayer as well.

"Of course as time goes on people may want more deeper counselling as well."

 He encouraged people to ask God to give those impacted "strength to overcome fear in the times of uncertainty". 

During a second attack which struck overnight, five suicide belt-wearing terrorists used a car to ram civilians in the seaside town of Cambrils. They were shot and killed by police but not before seven people, including an officer, were hurt.

On Twitter, Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby said: "Full of sorrow for those affected by the attack in Barcelona, Christ give eternal light and peace and hope to the bereaved and injured."

Two people have been arrested over the attack in Las Ramblas and major manhunt is underway to trace the suspected van driver.

Pawi Lerma/PA Wir
Sscene in Las Ramblas, Barcelona after several people have been injured after a van crashed on a pavement in a popular tourist area of the Spanish city.

While taking refuge in a nearby church, Ethan Spieby told the BBC: "You just run in that situation... We turned and ran as quick as possible.

"The people at the church have been handing out water and food as an when they need it but it's clearly quite a distressful(sic) situation."

So-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in Barcelona, which senior police official Josep Lluis Trapero described as "clearly a terror attack intended to kill as many people as possible".

General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK, Bishop Angaelos tweeted: "Landed back into London to heartbreaking news of #BarcelonaAttacks.

"Praying for all those whose lives have been lost and affected."

In the United States, the Catholic Church said it "unequivocally condemns this morally heinous act", while the humanitarian arm of the Episcopal Church released a prayer for those affected by the events.

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