Hundreds of thousands marched in Barcelona in a show of unity on Saturday evening, with chants of “I am not afraid”, after two terrorist attacks in the Spanish region of Catalonia last week left 15 dead.



The march was led by shopkeepers and residents of the city’s central boulevard, Las Ramblas, where a van ploughed into pedestrians on 17 Aug, killing 13 and injuring over 100.

The crowd applauded representatives of the police, fire services and medical professions, who were also prominent.

Spain’s King Felipe VI, prime minister Mariano Rajoy and the head of Catalonia’s regional government, Carles Puigdemont, dressed in dark suits, walked in the throng as people cheered while carrying red, yellow and white roses – the colours of Barcelona.

“We are here to say we’re not afraid, we are united and we want peace,” said 59-year-old Victoria Padilla as she marched. Slogans carried by marchers read “The best answer: peace” and “No to Islamophobia”.

Police estimated that half a million people attended the march.

Members of Spain’s Islamic community marched alongside the king and Rajoy, including women wearing hijabs. Speakers gave readings next to a floral display with the words “Barcelona” and “I am not afraid” in different languages including Arabic.

“We have to know how to speak to each other and understand others. Everyone has to learn how to be more human,” said one demonstrator, Juan Ripoll, 63.

In the run up to the protest, Barcelona mayor Ada Colau called for a massive turnout after what she called a “tough, painful week” which saw two deadly attacks in as many days and an extensive manhunt for those responsible.

Barcelona is still mourning the 15 people killed on 17 August, when a van ploughed into crowds on the central boulevard of Las Ramblas, and a car mowed down pedestrians in the nearby seaside town of Cambrils.

Europe has been shaken by a series of deadly Islamist attacks, particularly the increasing number of low-tech attacks using knives or vehicles as weapons.

On Friday evening, a man was shot dead in central Brussels after stabbing a soldier while shouting “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest); later, a man with a large knife attacked police in London as they tried to arrest him outside Buckingham Palace.

Rajoy said earlier the king would attend the march to demonstrate “his love for the people of Barcelona, of Cambrils, of Catalonia”.



“There, with all of Catalan society and all of Spain … we will once again give a clear message of unity and condemnation of terrorism, and of love for the city of Barcelona,” he added.

The warm comments contrast with Rajoy’s earlier criticism of Catalan leaders, with whom he has been at loggerheads over their plans to hold an independence referendum on 1 October.



But in the aftermath of the attacks, which were claimed by the Islamic State group, he and Catalonia’s separatist president, Carles Puigdemont, made a show of unity .

Thousands attended a march in Cambrils on Friday night. The banner says ‘We are all Cambrils’. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters

On Friday evening, thousands of people marched against terrorism in Cambrils, shouting “no tinc por”, which means “not afraid” in Catalan – a phrase defiantly shouted by locals after last week’s attacks.

Those who tended to the victims last week led the procession. These include security forces, emergency workers, residents and shop owners in Las Ramblas and taxis who transported people for free.

Among them was Montse Rovira, the city hall’s head of social emergencies, who helped people who were lost or who couldn’t find their loved ones. Rovira and her colleagues also gave psychological support to victims’ families and the emergency services.

“There are a lot of people who are suffering,” she said, admitting that even psychologists had struggled. The march would help “recognise the work of people who have been on the front line,” Rovira added.

Saray Gomez, an 18-year-old who works at a flower stall near where the van ended its deadly journey, said it was important “to give a message of unity and peace … And it’s important to distinguish between Islam and jihadists, because Muslims are the first to be affected,” she said.