At least one person has been killed and 32 others injured after a van ploughed into crowds in Barcelona’s famous Las Ramblas tourist area.

The vehicle sped along the pedestrian area, sending many fleeing for cover in shops and cafes.

Witnesses said the van had deliberately targeted people before coming to a stop.

According to El Pais newspaper, the driver of the vehicle had fled on foot after mowing down dozens of people.

Police are treating the incident as a terror attack.

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Spanish media reports say one or two armed men barricaded themselves inside a bar in the area after the attack.

Vehicles have been used to ram into crowds in a series of attacks across Europe since July last year.

A suspect has been arrested by Spanish police and a possible name has been released: Detenido “Driss” Oukabir.

A rental van has driven over a crowd of people crossing a busy intersection in the tourist area of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain. According to the AP, the van “jumped” the sidewalk and hit people. Ultima Ahora reports at least 13 are dead.

Las Ramblas is Barcelona’s central boulevard that runs 0.75 miles through the city’s center. It runs from Barcelona’s Plaça de Catalunya (Catalonia Square) to the Christopher Columbus monument at the seafront.

The boulevard is popular with tourists because of its market stalls, bars and restaurants.

Barcelona city council restricted traffic flow on Las Ramblas because of heavy pedestrian use of the street.