Barcelona attack: multiple deaths reported after van hits Las Ramblas crowds – latest updates

Barcelona police have confirmed a terrorist attack has taken place in the city centre, after a van drove into a crowd of pedestrians in the central Las Ramblas area.

Two armed men are reportedly holed up in a nearby restaurant following the incident.

The men – who may be not be those who drove a van into a huge crowd of people earlier – may be holding hostages inside the restaurant.

Police have said they are still searching for the man who was driving the van, which drove into one of the busiest squares in the city centre.

Authorities say a van mounted a pavement and struck several people in a “massive crash” in the area of the city that is popular with tourists.