Sombre memorial for victims of Barcelona terror attack four years on

Family members, officials, and members of the public paid respects to the memory of the victims on the fourth anniversary of the terror attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils.

An emotional and sombre memorial act took place at the Joan Miró mosaic in the middle of the famous boulevard. 

Relatives of the victims placed white carnations on pillars located on the promenade before authorities did the same. 

The song 'El cant dels ocells' by Pau Casals was performed and a minute’s silence was observed, at which point the emotion of the family members was strong.

The president of the Catalan government, Pere Aragonès, the Spanish congress speaker, Meritxell Batet, and the mayor of Barcelona, ​​Ada Colau, were accompanied by the other various officials and ministers from the Catalan government and local council. 

Three convicted to 8-53 years

In May, prison sentences ranging between 8 and 53 years were given to three individuals linked to the terror cell that orchestrated the attacks. 

Spain's National Court sentenced Mohamed Houli to 53 and a half years behind bars and Driss Oukabir to 46 and a half years for the events in Barcelona and Cambrils on August 17, 2017, while Said ben Iazza was sentenced to 8 years.

Houli and Oukabir have been found guilty of belonging to a terrorist organization; possessing, stockpiling, and manufacturing explosives and flammable substances or devices that are terrorist in nature; and attempted criminal damages of terrorist intent in combination with 29 offenses of grievous bodily harm due to serious negligence. Ben Iazza, meanwhile, was convicted of collaboration with a terrorist organization. 

Yet, none of them were found guilty for the murders, since they did not directly intervene.  

16 deaths in summer 2017 terror attack

On August 17, 2017, a white van drove into a crowd gathered on Barcelona's La Rambla boulevard, causing chaos, injury, and deaths. The attacker fled in a stolen car after killing the driver. Hours later, after midnight, five other men stabbed a woman in a nearby seaside town.

In all, 16 people died and 140 were injured. All men directly responsible for the attacks were eventually killed by police. But they were later found to be part of a larger jihadist cell – one that was preparing attacks on an even bigger scale.