Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has offered his condolences to the victims of the overnight islamist terrorist attack on Barcelona, which ISIS has claimed its "soldiers" carried out and expressed Greece's solidarity with the Spanish people and the country's sympathy for the families of the victims.
The official death toll of the van attack, which took place at a busy shopping strip along the Ramblas, stands at 13 and at least 50 have been injured, according to Catalonia’s interior minister, Joaquim Forn. Local Police have confirmed that the incident was a terror attack and one suspect has been arrested.
"These difficult moments, our thoughts are in Barcelona. We express our solidarity with the Spanish people and our sympathy for the families of the victims," said Tsipras.
Meanwhile in a statement, Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported one Greek national has been injured in the attack as it liaises with Spanish authorities.
"According to the official information from Spanish authorities so far, a Greek citizen is among the injured," the ministry said, adding that Greece's embassy in Madrid and the personnel in the Greek consulate in Barcelona are in continuous communication with Spanish authorities and are offering consular assistance.
"Our thoughts go out to Barcelona. Appalled by the heinous terrorist attack," said the ministry’s announcement.
President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos send on Thursday a letter to the King of Spain, Felipe VI, to express his sincere condolences for the terrorist attack in Barcelona, saying he is "appalled by the barbaric attack".
Pavlopoulos also expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and his wished for a speedy recovery of those injured.
Located in the center of Barcelona, Las Ramblas is a popular tourist area.
Facebook has activated its safety check tool to enable people in Barcelona to let their friends and relatives know that they are safe.
In recent months, a number of terror-related car attacks have taken place in Europe. More than 100 people have been killed in similar attacks in Nice, Berlin, London and Stockholm.
