Foreign leaders have voiced both condemnation and sympathy to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy following Thursday’s (August 17) terrorist attack in Barcelona.

Poland’s interior minister Mariusz Blaszczak said the attack showed the EU’s system of migrant relocation was wrong.

“It is dangerous. Europe should wake up,” he said. “We are dealing here with a clash of civilisations.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Islamist terrorism “can never defeat us.”

Pope Francis said in a message to the cardinal of Barcelona that the attack was “an act of blind violence that is a grave offence to the Creator.”

Rajoy told reporters: “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.”

Rajoy and Spain’s King Felipe observed a minute’s silence in Barcelona’s main square.

As Spain began three days of mourning, defiant crowds later chanted in Catalan “I am not afraid.”

Reuters