13 killed, 50 injured as police arrest a suspect

Police have reportedly arrested a suspect following a van attack in Spain's Barcelona city centre.

Police said a white van mounted the pavement of the main tourist area in the city, hitting several people.

play Debris on the ground after a van hit pedestrians in Barcelona
(Sky News)

Sky News, citing Catalan interior minister Joaquim Forn, said at least 13 persons were killed in the incident which has been declared a terror attack.

The van came stopped at the entrance to the Liceu metro station and the occupants escaped and ran off into the streets nearby, a local newspaper reports.

The interior minister was also said to have confirmed that 50 people were injured in the attack.

One TV station said two armed men entered a Turkish restaurant and took hostages, but  Forn denied this.

Police had said they were looking for a man of 5ft 5ins (1.7m) in height, wearing a white shirt with blue stripes.

play A police car blocks the road after the collision
(Sky News)

It was gathered that the van used in the attack is a Fiat, that was hired from an address in Santa Perpetua Of the Mogoda about five miles north of the city.

El Pais, a Spanish newspaper has identified a man who the Civil Guard says is responsible for the attack.

A Facebook account says he is from Marseilles and lives in Ripoll, Catalonia, about 50 miles north of Barcelona.