Fico on Attack in Barcelona: Europe Must Provide Its People with Security

Fico on Attack in Barcelona: Europe Must Provide Its People with Security

Bratislava, August 17 (TASR) – Europe and Slovakia have to first and foremost provide their people with security, stated Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in response to a terrorist attack that took place in the Spanish city of Barcelona on Thursday afternoon, TASR learnt on the same day.

“We can never prevent individuals from committing the acts of killing, but it’s always better and more effective to fight against similar threats together,” Fico wrote on Facebook, expressing sincere condolences to the entire country.”

President Andrej Kiska on Twitter offered his condolences to the families of the victims, describing the news about the Barcelona attack as sad.

Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak also responded to the incident on his Twitter account by saying that the culprits must be punished.

According to the Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Ministry, no Slovaks appear to be among the victims of the attack, for which Islamic State has claimed responsibility.

At least 13 people died and 80 were injured after a van ploughed into a crowd of people in a popular Barcelona tourist area – Las Ramblas on Thursday.