COPS stormed a tourist hotspot in Barcelona in an anti-terrorism operation after receiving reports of a van carrying a suspicious package.

Sagrada Familia and a nearby tube station were cordoned off and the bomb squad called in but the it turned out to be a false alarm.

4 Sagrada Familia was evacuated and the bomb squad called in as part of an anti-terror operation Credit: Twitter/carlesgonzalezg

4 A nearby van was checked out but it turned out to be a false alarm Credit: Twitter/LaVanguardia

4 It comes weeks after a terror attack in Barcelona killed 13 people Credit: Twitter/ServenXavier

Nearby shops were also sealed off and cops were seen searching bins in the area.

Mossos, the Catalan police service, confirmed explosives experts were scrambled as part of an "anti-terror operation".

They added: "If you live [near] Sagrada Familia do not leave your home or not go to bed. Stay calm and follow official info. We work [to] restore normality".

It comes just weeks after a terror cell killed 13 people in the popular tourist resort of Las Ramblas after ploughing a van through crowds.

A woman died in a second vehicle attack early in the town of Cambrils as five terrorists were shot dead.

Sagrada Familia was the intended target of the terror attack.

4 The tourist hotspot was the intended target of a terror attack in Barcelona last month Credit: Getty - Contributor

The warped jihadis planned to pack three vans full of gas cylinders and explode one van on Las Ramblas, a second by the Sagrada Familia, and a third in the Barcelona’s port area, according to Spanish news site El Espanol.

The Sagrada Familia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations.

Its architect Antonio Gaudi started its construction in 1882 – but it is still officially incomplete.

MOST READ IN NEWS Exclusive 'HE'S DEVASTATED' Kyle Walker 'furious' after fiancée admits to lockdown fling with toyboy HOME TIME New London lockdown 'can't be ruled out' with people working from home 'in days' XMAS 'GIFT' PM to consider lifting 'rule of six' on Xmas so families can celebrate together 'HER UNIFORM WAS HUNG UP READY' Family's heartbreak as schoolgirl, 14, killed in crash COVID CLAMPDOWN PM unveils huge £10k fines for Brits who break covid self-isolation rules TEEN 'RAPISTS' Two boys under 16 arrested for rape of young woman outside Surrey pub

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.