Spanish Prime Minister says helping victims and arresting suspects are top priorities

Record ID: 906872

  • Title: Spanish Prime Minister says helping victims and arresting suspects are top priorities
  • Date: 18th August 2017
  • Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (AUGUST 18, 2017) (REUTERS) SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, MARIANO RAJOY, ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH CATALAN REGIONAL PRESIDENT, CARLES PUIGDEMONT / RAJOY WALKING TO PODIUM MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, MARIANO RAJOY, SAYING: "Our priorities are manifold. Probably the most important one right now is helping all those hospitalized in Barcelona and in several other locations around Catalonia. And helping their families as well, as you know, many of the casualties, many of the wounded, are not Spanish, they are foreigners. From a police point of view, the priority is to establish the facts, arrest the criminals as soon as possible and do our best to prevent this type of sad and dramatic events from happening again." CATALONIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, MARIANO RAJOY, SAYING: "Europe's top problem, according to research presented to heads of state at one of the most recent European Councils, was the fight against terror. It's what generates most concern in Europe and it's very justified after the attacks in cities like Paris, Nice, London, Berlin and even Sweden not so long ago." REPORTERS WORKING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, MARIANO RAJOY, SAYING: "This country has suffered terrorist attacks during many years, attacks against people's lives, against their freedoms and rights - the most important thing we, as people, have. We won that battle, and I am absolutely convinced that we will win this one too. This one is a global battle, not just against us but against all the countries defending democracy, freedom, human rights, those values and those principles, we have always felt so proud of." REPORTER TYPING ON LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CATALAN REGIONAL PRESIDENT, CARLES PUIGDEMONT, SAYING: "The whole of Catalonia has shown an amazing response to the attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils. Truthfully, we woke up today still shaken emotionally from the terror we experienced yesterday. But we woke up determined as well. Determined to win the battle against terrorism with our best weapons, solidarity, coexistence, freedom, respect." REPORTERS GATHERED AFTER NEWS CONFERENCE RAJOY AND PUIGDEMONT SHAKIN
  • Embargoed: 1st September 2017 17:18
  • Keywords: Barcelona Spain attack security
  • Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
  • City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016UOQN9J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Friday (August 18) that helping the victims and proceeding to arrest those responsible for the attacks in Catalonia were the top priorities.
    Rajoy spoke at a news conference in Barcelona after holding a cabinet meeting on security with Catalan authorities and members of his government. He also told reporters that one of Europe's main concerns was the "fight against terror".
    Spain mounted a sweeping anti-terror operation after a suspected Islamist militant on Thursday (August 17) drove a van into crowds in Barcelona, killing 13 people before fleeing, in what police suspect was one of multiple planned attacks.
    Islamic State said the perpetrators had been responding to its call for action by carrying out Thursday's rampage on Las Ramblas, Barcelona's most famous avenue, which was thronged with holiday-makers enjoying an afternoon stroll at the peak of the tourist season.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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