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Latest: Irish boy, 5, suffers broken leg; Donegal woman describes 'eerie' streets after Barcelona attack

Latest: Irish boy, 5, suffers broken leg; Donegal woman describes 'eerie' streets after Barcelona attack
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Update - 9.51am: Amy McColgan from Letterkenny in Donegal was in Barcelona at the time of yesterday's terror attack and describes what she saw.

She said: "Whenever they decided to lift the shutters and let us out, there was nobody on the streets, it was eerie, very eerie.

"There was a tent and the police had the tape across and they were ushering us to get us off that street that was closed off.

"And that was scary now, because we still didn't know what was going on."

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Update - 9.15am: A five-year-old Irish boy suffered a broken leg when his family was caught up in the terror attack in Barcelona.

The boy's father also has leg injuries after a van was driven into innocent people in Las Ramblas, one of the busiest avenues in the Spanish city.

Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Coveney, said: "They are not life-threatening, I'm relieved to say.

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"But in a way it's a miracle that more Irish people weren't involved, given that there are so many Irish people in Spain, Barcelona and Cambrils at this time of year."

The father and son were part a family of four, including the mother and a daughter, and are understood to have been on a trip to celebrate the boy's birthday.

The youngster suffered a broken femur.

The mother and father are understood to be from Cebu in the Philippines and are naturalised Irish citizens. They hold dual citizenship. The children were born in Ireland.

A woman places flowers near a paper that reads "Catalunya - place of peace" in Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain, today.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is assisting the family.

Earlier: An Irish family were caught up in the terror attack in Barcelona.

The mother and father are originally from the Philippines and are naturalised Irish citizens, while their two children were both born in Ireland.

It is understood they were holidaying in the Spanish city for the birthday of one of the children.

It is reported one of the family members sustained serious but non life-threatening injuries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is assisting the family. Its officials opened a hotline for anyone concerned about relatives in Spain on 01-408 2000, while the Irish Embassy in Madrid is also fielding calls on +34 9143 64093.

President Michael D Higgins led condemnation of the attack and sent a message of condolence.

"Barcelona has a long history of hospitality and has over the years received so many people from around the world," he said.

The scene of yesterday's attack.

"As President of Ireland, I want to send the people of this great and welcoming city not only our sympathy but also the solidarity of the people of Ireland."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "An attack of this nature, targeting the people of Barcelona and visitors enjoying that wonderful city in the height of the tourist season, is both wanton and cowardly and has no place in our society.

"At this time of immense grief, I want to offer our solidarity and support to the people of Spain, with whom we have such close relations."

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said he was appalled by the attack.

"On behalf of the Irish Government, I wish to convey our condolences and solidarity with the people of Spain at this time," he said.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan described it as an unspeakable act of terrorism and vowed that gardai would liaise closely with Spanish counterparts.

"It is clear that the intention of those who carried out this appalling, evil act was to kill, wound and terrorise innocent people enjoying the freedoms we share and cherish," he said.

"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families."

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