Sri Lanka condemns Barcelona terror attack

**By APD Writer Easwaran **

COLOMBO, August 18 (APD) – Sri Lanka on Friday condemned the suspected terrorist attack in Barcelona in which at least 13 people were killed and nearly 100 injured.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mahishini Colonne extended condolences to those affected on behalf of the Sri Lankan government.

“The government of Sri Lanka condemns the terrorist attack in Barcelona Spain and extends condolences to those affected,” she said.

The attack took place at around 17:00 hours local time on Thursday when a man drove a white van at high speed onto the city’s famous Las Ramblas. At the time of the attack, the area was packed with people, many of them tourists.

The van believed to be the one used in the attack, is surrounded by forensics officers on Thursday.

Authorities believe the attack was not the work of a “lone wolf” and that it was organized by at least three people.

Over 230 suspected jihadist terrorists have been arrested in Spain since the start of 2015.

According to EU’s Terrorism Situation and Trend Report published in June this year, a total of 142 failed, foiled and completed terrorist attacks were reported by eight EU countries in 2016.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)