Barcelona terror attack: Witnesses report 'loud crash' followed by 'stampede' of screaming people

'People were running into shops and taking refuge in cafes. There was a lot of screaming. Now we've been told there's a hostage situation.'

Police are treating the incident as a terrorist attack (AFP/Getty Images)

Witnesses have told of hearing a “loud crash” followed by people screaming after a van ploughed into crowds of people in Las Ramblas in Barcelona.

Police are treating the incident as a terrorist attack and local media reports suggest at least 13 people have been killed and several more injured.

Ethan Spidey, 25, told The Independent there was a “stampede” as tourists and locals sprinted away from the scene of the attack.

He said: “I was with my boyfriend just about to cross Las Ramblas and all of a sudden there was an immediate stampede and police shouting at people to run.

“I saw a young child knocked over and picked them up but everyone was just running.

“There was a stampede in the streets alongside Las Ramblas as everyone tried to run away. People were running into shops and taking refuge in cafes. There was a lot of screaming.

“People just turned and sprinted in the opposite direction as the police were screaming at people to run away. They were telling people to get away as soon as possible. It was very scary.”

Mr Spidey said he had taken refuge in a church and was locked in as police dealt with what was described as a “hostage situation” nearby. Local reports suggest two armed men entered a restaurant following the crash.

“My boyfriend and I have come into a church with about 80 people, tourists and Spaniards,” he said. "They’ve locked the doors and we’re locked in because we’ve been told there’s a hostage situation nearby.

“We’ve been told they haven’t caught the suspect so everyone is pretty anxious."

The British tourist, who was spending a week in Barcelona “to relax”, said there were signs that something “wasn’t quite right” before the van crashed.

“People were looking in that direction and we noticed something wasn’t right,” he said. “Then there was a loud noise which I guess must have been the van, but we didn’t know at the time. People turned around and just ran.”

Emma Waterhouse, 24, was on Las Ramblas with her family at the time of the attack.

She told The Independent: "We heard screeching noises and then screaming. Everyone started running in different directions and me, my mum and sister jumped onto the pavement behind a pillar as the van sped down the street.

“My dad ran across the road to join us as he had gone in the other direction and said there were lots of bodies. He saw people being hit.

“The van ploughed into the seating outside restaurants and people were struggling to run away because of the chairs.

“Everyone was running to the sides of the street and then either into shops or down the side streets away from

“We are in shock. I honestly thought the van was going to hit us.”