Get you up to speed: Spain launches manhunt after woman fatally stabbed in Barcelona attack
A woman died after a knifeman slashed her throat and stabbed her multiple times in broad daylight in Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. The alleged attacker was detained by Catalan police shortly after the incident, which took place around 11am.
The Esplugues City Council expressed its condolences following the violent death, stating it “deeply regrets the violent death of a person in the city” and is concerned about the event’s impact on “coexistence and citizen security.” According to a report from Spain’s monitoring agency for domestic and gender-based violence, 49 women and one man were killed by partners or ex-partners last year, highlighting the ongoing issue of violence against women in the country.
A large-scale manhunt was launched, leading to the alleged attacker being detained by Catalan police nearby shortly after the incident. The Esplugues City Council expressed its concern about the event, stating it affects the area’s ‘coexistence and citizen security’.
Woman killed in knife attack at popular British tourist destination | News World
The attack took place in a popular holiday destination for Brits (Picture: X)
A woman has died after a knifeman slashed her throat and repeatedly stabbed her in broad daylight at a hotspot popular with British tourists.
The killing unfolded at around 11am yesterday in the Esplugues de Llobregat area of Barcelona, Spain.
The alleged attacker was reportedly seen by onlookers showing ‘signs of nervousness’ and brandishing a large knife openly in Joan Miró street.
He later approached the woman, stabbing her multiple times and cutting her throat before he fled the scene.
Blood could be seen along the street as emergency services rushed to the scene to try and save the woman.
Paramedics treated her but she died from her injuries.
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A large-scale manhunt was quickly launched to locate the suspect. He was detained by Catalan police nearby shortly afterwards.
Images taken in the aftermath of the attack showed a forensic tent concealing the woman’s body.
Images from social media showed a man standing in the street (Picture: X)
Neither the woman nor her suspected attacker have been identified at this stage.
It has also not been revealed if the pair knew each other, however Catalan police are treating the killing as gender-based violence.
Officers are also examining if the suspect attacked a man who was treated for minor injuries in the area at the time.
After the news emerged, the Esplugues City Council, which covers the area, said it ‘deeply regrets the violent death of a person in the city’ and expressed its condolences to the woman’s family and loved ones.
‘Out of respect for the ongoing investigation and all those affected, we ask for prudence and responsibility, and to avoid spreading unverified information,’ it added.
It also expressed ‘concern about this serious event’ which it said affects the area’s ‘coexistence and citizen security’.
The suspected knifeman has not been identified at this stage (Picture: X)
While the specific motivation of the attack remains unclear, violence against women is a major issue in Spain.
A report from the Mediterranean country’s monitoring agency for domestic and gender-based violence revealed that 49 women and one man were killed by partners or ex-partners last year.
Of the women killed, 11 had filed a prior complaint, equalling the ‘lowest percentage on record’.
Five of the women were protected by restraining orders when they died.
However, seven of the 11 who filed police reports were still living with their abuser when they were killed.
When examining the most frequent crime scene from the records, which date back to 2003, it emerged that in almost three quarters of cases the woman shared it with her abuser.
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