Locals and tourists take back Las Ramblas after terrorist attack

THE famous Barcelona street hit by terrorists has re-opened, as locals and tourists take back the Spanish city, less than 24 hours after the deadly attack.

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THE Barcelona street hit by a terrorist attack has re-opened, as locals and tourists take back the Spanish city, less than 24 hours after at least 14 people were killed and more than 130 injured.

Las Ramblas, the famed promenade in downtown Barcelona, was re-opened yesterday morning, with thousands of tourists immediately taking to its paved walkways.

But roads around the area remained closed to traffic and a heavy police presence and crime scene tape were reminders of last night’s murderous attack.

The buskers and musicians who usually stake out positions on the promenade were absent, and many of the small kiosks selling newspapers, ice-creams and fridge magnets remained closed.

Jesus, 23, was at work as usual selling newspapers, fans and trinkets from his stall.

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Jesus at his shop on Las Ramblas. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

People lay flowers on Las Ramblas the day after the attack. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

Tourists have returned to Las Ramblas. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

He was selling out of the local newspaper, El Periodico, which featured a confronting photograph on its front page taken just metres away, and the headline Horror en La Rambla.

“It’s important that we are open,’’ he told News Corp.

“We are showing that we are not scared, and everyone goes on as normal.

“There are as many tourists here as normal.’’

The van used in the attack halted its deadly advance about 5m away from Jesus’ stall.

The only sign it was ever there was a small green circle, painted on the ground by police, outside the four-star Hotel Royal.

The Guardian Urbania, Barcelona’s city police, had dozens of officers on the street, and private security guards armed with sidearms were also on patrol.

The side streets were lined with satellite trucks as news crews from around the world arrived to cover the terror attack, Spain’s first major Islamist attack since the Madrid train bombings in 2004.

Police on patrol at Las Ramblas. Picture: AP

Spain has largely avoided the attacks which have targeted tourist sites in France and Germany, and security on the streets was noticeably less than in the big cities of Paris and Berlin, where the military patrols.

The major chain stores including Spanish retail behemoths Zara and Mango were open for business, while others lining Las Ramblas, including H & M, were closed.

At Barcelona Airport, heavily-booked flights continued to arrive as families with children continued with their school holidays.

There was no sign of increased security at the airport.

Two local women, Rosa and Pilar work nearby and came to place a candle on a small shrine that was growing under a water fountain.

Rosa and Pilar on Las Ramblas. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

Rosa said the pair had closed their shop as soon as they heard about the attack and came down to Las Ramblas.

“It was very, very very scary,’’ she said, through tears.

“There were ambulances and police, all the bodies.

“It’s a sad situation that there were kids involved as well.’’

Jordi Lluch-Planet came to place a candle that was part of a shrine at his home, to show respects to the victims.

Jordi Lluch-Planet. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

He said his family had been in Barcelona for 800 years, and the city had always welcomed people of all religions and all cultures.

Mr Lluch-Planet said bringing the family candle was his way of showing “everyone is just one big family”.

“It is important everything is open and everyone goes on as normal,’’ he said.

He told News Corp he comes to Las Ramblas every few days, and had seen extra police patrolling, armed with heavy weapons, in the day leading up the attack.

“There were a lot of police with guns,’’ he said.

Originally published as Locals and tourists take back Las Ramblas after terrorist attack