- Title: German interior minister - 13 Germans injured in Barcelona attack
- Date: 18th August 2017
- Summary: RIESA, GERMANY (AUGUST 18, 2017) (REUTERS) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER THOMAS DE MAIZIERE ARRIVING DE MAIZIERE STANDING IN FRONT OF MICROPHONES (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER, THOMAS DE MAIZIERE, SAYING: "We are all deeply shocked about the terrible news that we are hearing from Barcelona, from Spain. We pay our respects to the victims, we grieve with their relatives and pray that they find strength and comfort. Once again terrorists have murdered innocent people and injured many. With this act, they knew they would strike residents, holidaymakers, everyone. I cannot confirm that Germans are among the dead. Of course, that is not something that we can rule out at this time. There are around 13 Germans who were injured, three of them seriously. We share their relatives' hopes that they survive and recover. The German consulate is in touch with the affected people. I have sent a team of psychological counsellors to support relatives there. I have also ordered that flags be flown at half-mast across Germany today in sympathy." DE MAIZIERE SPREAKING TO MEDIA JOURNALIST WITH CAMERA PHONE, TV CAMERAS IN BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER, THOMAS DE MAIZIERE, SAYING: "It is still too early to say anything about the background of this attack. Our security authorities are in close contact with each other and I have myself been in touch with my Spanish counterpart. Until now there have been no signs that the attackers have any links to Germany, however the investigation is still at a very early stage. Taking this attack in Barcelona into account, the threat for Germany remains high." DE MAIZIERE SPREAKING TO MEDIA CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER, THOMAS DE MAIZIERE, SAYING: "Of course, we cannot totally block off our city centres, neither do we want to. We do not want to shut ourselves off, because that is what terrorists want. Instead we want to resolutely continue with our free way of life, but also be watchful. Therefore, security measures that need to be carried out there (in Barcelona) will and must be implemented, that will be decided there. But we are not prepared to prevent people from meeting each other in public places and squares, just because terrorists make them victims in their attacks." DE MAIZIERE SPEAKING TO MEDIA DE MAIZIERE STEPPING AWAY FROM MICROPHONES AND LEAVING BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 18, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SPANISH EMBASSY IN BERLIN SPANISH AND EU FLAGS FLYING AT HALF-MAST FLOWERS WITH ROSARY TIED TO FENCE OUTSIDE EMBASSY SPANISH COAT OF ARMS ON EMBASSY FENCE, EMBASSY EMPLOYEES IN GARDEN IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF EMBASSY EMPLOYEES OBSERVING MINUTE OF SILENCE ROSARY TIED TO FENCE PEOPLE LEAVING SPANISH EMBASSY, FLAGS AT HALF-MAST
- Embargoed: 1st September 2017 13:34
- Keywords: Barcelona attack statement Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere Spanish embassy minute of silence
- Location: RIESA, BERLIN; GERMANY
- City: RIESA, BERLIN; GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
- Reuters ID: LVA0016UOOXMV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in a statement in Riesa on Friday (August 18) that the government could not confirm that German citizens were among those killed in terrorist attacks in the Spanish region of Catalonia, but that it also could not be ruled out. Some 13 German citizens were injured, three of them seriously. So far none of the attackers are known to have links to Germany, but De Maiziere cautioned that the investigation into the attacks was still at an early stage.
De Maiziere said the government and the German consulate in Barcelona were in close contact with the Spanish government, and that a team of psychological counsellors had been sent to the region to support German victims' families. He also expressed his own sympathies for the victims and their families, and said that it was not possible or desirable to block off European city centres to prevent attacks, as that would be what the attackers wanted.
Employees and visitors at the Spanish embassy in Berlin observed a minute of silence at noon in sympathy with the victims of two attacks on Thursday (August 17) in Barcelona and the coastal town of Cambrils. Vehicles drove into crowds in both cities, killing 13 and injuring around 130. One woman has since died of her injuries from the Cambrils attack. The attack in Barcelona took place on Las Ramblas, a street in the city centre popular with tourists. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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