Barcelona, Aug 17 (EFE).- At least two people were killed and 20 others were injured when a van ran over pedestrians in Barcelona's Rambla boulevard on Thursday in what police confirmed was a terror attack.

Security sources said they were looking for two suspects, one of whom was the driver of the van, who managed to flee on foot and barricaded himself inside a bar armed with a rifle.

The second suspect managed to escape, the sources told EFE, adding that they were searching for someone wearing a blue and white sweater.

"We can confirm this was a terror attack. The counter-terror protocol has been activated," tweeted regional police.

Police said the van rammed into several vehicles before barreling down the tree-lined central pedestrian-only area of the Rambla.

Officers from the regional Mossos d'Esquadra and emergency services were deployed to the area, which is at the heart of the city's touristic center and is visited by thousands every day.

Police sources said they were searching for a second van that the suspects may have rented to use as a getaway vehicle.

Police also denied rumors of a shooting at a nearby shopping center.

The regional government asked that metro and train stations in the area be closed to the public.

Spanish state broadcaster RTVE spoke to witnesses who said the van had mounted the central pedestrian part of the boulevard and raced towards crowds.

Television images showed several people being attended by medical first attenders and baby chairs lying abandoned on the road.



SHOT LIST: FOOTAGE OF LAS RAMBLAS IN BARCELONA IMMEDIATELY AFTER INCIDENT.



Keywords: efe,ramblas,barcelona,van,pedestrians,injured.