If you knew Barcelona like I do, you'd realise why it was a target – and why it won't turn to the far right

This is a city that has frequent demonstrations in favour of welcoming refugees, a city whose Mayor used to be a radical housing activist, a city where feminist activism is the norm, one where there is a 'counter of shame' to record the number of refugees that have died crossing the Mediterranean

Tourists and locals came together in a show of defiance just a day after the deadly attack (Screenshot)

To understand the political nature of Barcelona, you must know that in the middle of the city’s biggest park, Parc Ciutadella, there is a bandstand dedicated to Sonia Rescalvo. She was murdered there in 1991 by neo-Nazis for being transgender.

Barcelona isn’t just a modern, cosmopolitan city that is popular with tourists – it is an intensely political place where people wear progressive politics on their sleeves with pride.

This is a city that has frequent demonstrations in favour of welcoming refugees, a city whose Mayor used to be a radical housing activist, a city where feminist activism is the norm. This is a city where the Mayor unveiled a “counter of shame” to record the number of refugees that have died crossing the Mediterranean.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Barcelona was the victim of murderous jihadis: this city reflects everything the extremists hate. In that context, the men who drove a van through Las Ramblas aren’t that different to the man who drove his car into anti-Nazi protesters in Charlottesville last week. They both share a hatred for open and tolerant societies and are willing to use violence to achieve that.

Yesterday afternoon was the second time I’ve been very close to a terror attack. A few months ago my friends and I were driving around central London while the terror attacks in London Bridge took place. We were forced to take refuge in a London pub and later leave the city centre.

Yesterday, coincidentally with the same group of friends, we were having lunch at Las Ramblas in Barcelona. Just minutes before the attack, I strolled across the street to get to my flat. Our neighbour was there as it happened and what she remembered most vividly was the dull thud-thud-thud of bodies hitting the van as it sped down the crowded street. She was shaking as she told us what happened.

I am shocked and horrified for the city I have lived in for the past year at the atrocities of yesterday. Las Ramblas looked like a scene from a nightmare. And I can’t say the city calmly carried on, either. There were armed police running through the streets to find more suspects, there were multiple helicopters in the sky, people looked scared and panicked. I can only thank my lucky stars I wasn’t one of the victims. I just can’t imagine the pain and shock of those directly affected. My heart goes out to them.

Perhaps I won’t be so lucky next time. Who knows, after all? Our lives are short, precious and unpredictable. But I do know two things.

Firstly, the ongoing threat from Isis should not be downplayed or explained away. No sane person can say the attack on Barcelona was “in revenge” for an attack on Muslims. If anything the city has gone out of its way to defend, protect and welcome refugees. It has always been proud of its anti-war reputation.

We have to stand united against extremism, whether that be neo-Nazi extremism or Isis-inspired terrorism. We must challenge its sympathisers and condemn the preachers (white and brown) of hatred. And if they incite violence, then throw them in jail. We should not tolerate the intolerant.

Secondly, we must also stand resolutely in defence of our values. My wife and I have lived in Barcelona just for a year and it is among the most welcoming and relaxed cities in the world (the occasional anti-tourism graffiti aside). It prides itself on its welcoming nature and most of us who have come from around the world to stay here deeply appreciate that fact. Catalonian bureaucracy may drive you mad but it is more than made up by Catalonian hospitality.

It's highly unlikely Barcelona will descend into the madness of Trump and his far-right fantasies. But even a small slide towards that would be tragic. Yes, we should be vigilant and careful, but the values that have made Barcelona the wonderful place it is must live on.