Two people have been injured in a shooting incident that took place this Friday afternoon in the centre of Barcelona. The events took place at around 3pm in the gardens of El Pou de la Figuera, in the neighborhood of Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera, in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona. After firing several shots, the perpetrator fled in the direction of Carrer de Princesa.
The Mossos d'Esquadra police have begun an investigation and are attempting to identify the person responsible and discover the motives that led him to open fire. According to the newspaper El País, the Catalan police have been carrying out a close search of the area due to the possibility that the assailant may have thrown the weapon away during his escape. Police sources have told ElCaso.cat that the confrontation, according to the first information, began between individuals who are often found in this area of central Barcelona. The police investigation continues.
Shots in the centre of Barcelona: two injured
The first report that the shooting had taken place was made by the owner of a nearby restaurant, who heard the shots and came out to see what was happening. Seeing that a man was running away with a gun in his hand, he was alarmed and called the emergency services. During his escape, the assailant tripped, but managed to recover and was able to disappear in the surrounding streets. Another witness said that a group of young people were chasing the person with the gun, but it is not known if they were accompanying him or were pursuing him after seeing him fire the shots. In fact, one of these men was one of the wounded, who collapsed to the ground shortly afterwards. He had multiple gunshot wounds.
Several patrols from the Mossos d'Esquadra and the Barcelona Guàrdia Urbana police forces were dispatched to the site, as well as emergency medical personnel. The park area was cordoned off and the injured person taken by ambulance to a hospital. The man was seriously wounded, but conscious at all times. Another person was also slightly injured, apparently hit by a stray bullet that ricocheted off. According to the first reports, their lives are not in danger.