Van attack in Barcelona leaves 13 dead and many more injured

A van has run over and killed 13 people on the popular Ramblas thoroughfare of Barcelona, Spain, leaving a further 80 injured.

According to the Catalonia's regional president, Carles Puigdemont, two men were arrested after the van attack.

The white Fiat vehicle sped down the centre of the road near the Plaza de Catalunya, one of the busiest tourist areas of the city, leaving a trail of bodies in its wake before coming to a stop when it hit a newspaper kiosk.

Following the news, local authorities reportedly ordered the closing of the rail and underground stations in the Plaza de Cataluna, according to the latest reporting from DigitalLook's sister site Bolsamania.

Catalan authorities also activated a crisis cabinet to decide what measures to take in relation to the events.

In addition, hospitals in the city have issued an urgent appeal to citizens to donate blood, as reported through social networks National Police.

US President Donald Trump was quick to condemn the attack and offer to do "everything that is necessary to help", also making a reference to a debunked myth about a US general in the Philippines.

“Study what General Pershing of the United States did to terrorists when caught. There was no more Radical Islamic Terror for 35 years!” he tweeted.