The Catalan government has decided to implement further security measures following the Barcelona terror attack of August this year. The plans include installing permanent bollards on the busy tourist street La Rambla, and pedestrianising the area around Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia.
The news, with implementation beginning from today, means that the area surrounding the famously unfinished Gaudí building will be cut off to traffic. The reason for this is to prevent another vehicle related attack similar to August’s when reports indicated that the major Gaudí work was to be a target for an explosive attack.
Roads around the attraction such as Marina, Sardenya and Provença are to be traffic-free in the near future. This may also ease the congestion of tourists and sightseers around the Gaudí masterpiece who currently cram onto one slither of pavement.
After the attack in Barcelona, when a number of people lost their lives, temporary bollards were placed around key landmarks and places where a high number of people would congregate. These will now be made into permanent features with new designs.
Reports today suggest that the instigator of the terror attacks in Barcelona, Abdelbaki Es Satty had collaborated with Spanish intelligence agencies previous to the attack. We are likely to hear more about this in the days to come.