HALF a million people gathered in central Barcelona yesterday (Saturday) evening in what is believed to be the biggest-ever demonstration in Spain's recent history, in response to the terror attacks in the city and in Cambrils (Tarragona province) a week earlier.
Thousands of Muslims, and presidents or their representatives from every regional and provincial government in Spain joined in.
A collective, simultaneous cry of No tinc por – 'I'm not afraid', in catalán – went up and sent a clear message to the terrorism organisation that Spain was more united than ever.
President Mariano Rajoy, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also attended, and Catalunya's military police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, headed up the throng along with other members of the emergency services, all of whom have been hailed as heroes for their brave and swift work last Thursday night and Friday morning, without which countless more lives could have been lost.
The 500,000-strong crowd marched down the exact street which turned into a bloodbath nine days earlier, and numerous manifestos were read out – including by Catalunya-born actress Rosa Maria Sardà and the Islamic Ibn Battuta Foundation's leader Miriam Hatibi.
A parallel protest was staged in Cambrils, where five terrorists in an Audi A3 ploughed into late-night crowds, killing 61-year-old Ana María Suárez, from Zaragoza – who is due to have a street named after her – and injuring another six people before all five of the killers were shot dead by a lone police officer.
The attack in Barcelona left 13 dead, including at least two children – three-year-old Xavi, from Rubí (Barcelona province) and seven-year-old British-Australian Julian, who spend his last minutes of life cradled in the arms of a British man who was determined not to let him die alone.
Of the 132 injured in both attacks, 25 remain in hospital, of whom 16 are still critical.
Pau Pérez, 34, from Burgos – well-known locally for his aid work in Haïti – was knifed to death by Barcelona van driver Younes Abouyaqqoub, 22, who had hijacked his car intending to use it for the Cambrils attack.
Abouyaqqoub was shot dead earlier this week after going on the run, but being identified and reported by a local woman.
At the same time as the Barcelona and Cambrils gatherings, a 2,000-strong protest was held in Ripoll (Girona province), where all the terrorists had lived – many of them since earliest childhood.
Banners flew from marchers' hands, reading: “Only love will save the world,” “united against terrorism,” “Islam is peace,” “their wars, our lost loved ones,” and “we're not afraid.”
Muslims carried placards reading, “not with my hands, not in my name,” many of them on their second day of mass demonstrating, having travelled far and wide.
Friday, the Islamic holy day, saw multiple Muslim associations from Navarra to Ceuta demonstrating against terrorism, calling it 'fascism' and 'hijacking their religion'.
Mayor of Ripoll Jordi Munell, in his speech, expressed his support and compassion for the Islamic community in the town and beyond and his commitment to fighting extremism and radicalism.
The most stirring part of the demonstration was a speech by Hafida Oukabir (second picture), whose brother Driss, 28, is in custody on suspicion of being involved in the Barcelona massacre and Moussa, 17, was shot dead by police whilst carrying out the Cambrils attack.
Hafida, whose family has been shattered by grief – none of them knew what Driss and Moussa were involved in until it was too late – fought back tears as she addressed the crowds and had to break off a few times when she became overwhelmed with emotion.
As the sister of two of the terrorists, Hafida's appearance was clear testimony to the fact that killings in the name of Jihad cause immense suffering for the perpetrators' families as well as those of the direct victims.
“Us Muslims who live in Ripoll and Catalunya cannot thank you all enough for your shows of support,” Hafida said.
“We all share the same pain, we've all cried, and the total disbelief and bewilderment over what has happened is the same for all of us.”
Hafida received heartfelt applause for her bravery at standing up in front of the crowd, and her speech moved most of them to tears.
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