Spring

As Trump hedges, U.S. military officers condemn Charlottesville rally with clarity

Senior officers in the U.S. Armed Forces have denounced the white nationalists who organized a violent rally last weekend in Charlottesville, Va.

Man charged with spraying manure on US Border Protection car

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A man who says his livelihood in agriculture has been nearly ruined by people who entered the country illegally to work on local farms is facing charges he sprayed liquid manure on a marked U.S. Customs and Border Protection car after confronting an agent about immigration enforcement.

Nigeria suicide bombers kill 28, wound 82

Three women suicide bombers blew themselves up at the entrance to a camp for displaced people in northeast Nigeria on Tuesday, killing 28 people and wounding 82, local sources said. The attack -- the latest in a string of assaults in the troubled region -- took place in the town of Mandarari, 25 kilometres (15 miles) from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, said Baba Kura, a member of a vigilante force set up to fight jihadists. "Three female bombers triggered their explosive outside of the IDP (internally displaced persons) camp... killing 28 people and wounding 82 others," Kura said.

KKK leader threatens to 'burn' black Latina journalist and calls her a 'n*****' during interview

An Afro-Latina journalist conducting an interview with a member of the Ku Klux Klan has said he threatened her so violently that she was concerned for her safety. Ilia Calderón, a Univision journalist with both African and Colombian heritage, agreed to visit KKK leader Chris Barker on his wooded North Carolina property. Almost immediately, Mr Barker asked her why she didn’t “go back” to her country of origin.

How A German City Found An Absolutely Genius Way Of Handling Neo-Nazis

What do you do when neo-Nazis keep flooding your town?

American Airlines Accused Of Destroying Woman's Wedding Dress

The court papers claimed Yewande Oteh of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, decided to sue the airline after it failed to prevent or investigate the incident.

Thirty-seven inmates killed in government raid on Venezuelan prison

By Maria Ramirez PUERTO ORDAZ, Venezuela (Reuters) - Thirty-seven inmates were killed during an overnight raid by government security forces on a prison in Venezuela's southern jungle state of Amazonas, the governor said on Wednesday. The government seeks to reassert control over understaffed prison facilities by sending in special forces from time to time, but deadly confrontations often ensue. "There was a massacre," tweeted Liborio Guarulla, the Amazonas governor, who said 37 prisoners had been killed.

Driss Oukabir: who is the Barcelona suspect?

One of the vans used to carry out the murderous rampage at the heart of the city was rented by a man who identified himself as Driss Oukabir, Spanish police said. The white Fiat van was rented in the town of Santa Perpetua de la Mogoda, 16 miles north of Barcelona, it was claimed. Scores of innocent victims were mowed down as a van ploughed down the Spanish city’s hugely popular Las Ramblas shortly after 5pm. After careering off the road, the driver then sped through crowds of tourists for up to 500m, sending pedestrians flying, before coming to a halt outside the kosher Maccabi restaurant. At least 13 people were killed and 100 injured. Spanish reports initially said that Driss Oukabir was being questioned on suspicion of involvement in the attack. But on Thursday night the mayor of Ripoll, the town where he lived, 70 miles north of Barcelona, said that a man identifying himself as Driss Oukabir went to his local police station and reported that his documentation had been stolen. Jordi Munell, the mayor, said that the man had insisted that he had been in Ripoll at the time of the attack and went to the local police station as soon as he saw his images broadcast in the media. Police suspect that Driss Oukabir’s younger brother, named by Spanish media as 18-year-old Moussa, could have been involved.   An image taken from the Facebook profile of a Driss Oukabir Soprano.  Credit: Facebook The older Oukabir was born in Morocco in 1989 and legally resident in Spain, according to media reports. Spanish newspaper El Pais said he was known to police and spent time in prison in Figueres, Catalonia, before being released in 2012. However, in what is believed to be his Facebook profile, he says he was from Marseille, southern France, but living in Ripoll. Anti-terrorism sources had earlier told El Pais that they believed Oukabir arrived in Barcelona from Morocco on August 13. They said he was known to have spent time in Madrid this year and police were attempting to work out where he stayed and who he met there. According to police audio recordings, the driver of the van was 1m 70cm tall, dressed in a white shirt with blue stripes. Police were said to have found a Spanish passport inside the van. The Facebook profile picture of a Driss Oukabir Soprano from Ripoll was changed on Tuesday to one depicting him sunbathing on an unidentified beach. An image taken from the Facebook profile of a Driss Oukabir Soprano Credit: Facebook Wearing white headphones, he posed for the picture on a blue towel, which was laid out next to a pink one. The profile states that he has been in a relationship since December 2013 and contains links to more than 700 friends, several of whom were likely relatives who share the same Oukabir surname. Within minutes of his name being released by police, the profile was flooded with vitriolic messages, condemning him for any apparent involvement. The profile was later removed from the internet.   How the Barcelona terror attack unfolded 01:10 Over the last few weeks, Oukabir posted links to several hip hop music videos on YouTube. One of them, he described as being “for my brother”. In one video, an all-boy band, who sing in French, are seen celebrating and singing about vodka. In another, they revel in their love for expensive sports cars and women. Police said they had made two arrests following the attack, but said neither of those arrested was driving the van.

AFL-CIO leader bashes Trump’s ‘totally ineffective’ business council after leaving it

President Trump’s manufacturing council isn’t getting much work done, AFL-CIO chief Richard Trumka said after leaving the council following Trump’s highly criticized response to the deadly violence in Charlottesville, Va.

Charlottesville white supremacists 'terrified' of being exposed online

White supremacists involved in the Charlottesville violence are reportedly “terrified” about being publicly exposed, in case they lose their jobs or receive abuse online. On Monday it emerged anti-fascist vigilantes were naming and shaming white supremacists on social media, after clashes between the two sides overwhelmed the city over the weekend. “If you recognise any of the Nazis marching in Charlottesville, send me their names/profiles and I'll make them famous,” one Twitter user requested.

None Of The 10 Best Cities To Live In The World Are In The U.S.

Donald Trump’s policies are partly the reason that none of the 10 most liveable cities in the world are in the U.S., according to a new report from The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Shocking Video Shows Bear Biting Off Man's Arm After He Provokes It

The man ignored warning signs outside the cage and climbed over the fence to feed the bears milk.

911 Call Released in Death of Boy, 3, Who Cops Say Was Left in Day Care Van

Myles Hill was found dead in Orlando on Aug. 7.

Iran's military chief in rare visit to Turkey for Syria talks

By Parisa Hafezi and Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish and Iranian military leaders held talks on Wednesday over cooperation in the Syrian conflict and counter-terrorism, officials said, during a rare visit to NATO-member Turkey by the Islamic Republic's military chief of staff. Turkey's ties with Washington have been strained by U.S. support for Kurdish fighters in Syria, and the visit by Iranian General Mohammad Baqeri is the latest sign that Ankara is increasing cooperation with other powers such as Iran and Russia. Baqeri met his Turkish counterpart on Tuesday and Turkey's Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli on Wednesday in what Turkish media said was the first visit by an Iranian chief of staff since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

Maryland judge denies DC sniper Malvo's bid for new sentence

Lee Boyd Malvo, who as a teenager participated in the sniper attacks that killed 10 people and terrorized the Washington region, will not get a new sentence in Maryland, a judge said in a ruling released Wednesday.

Steve Bannon Gives Bizarre Interview Amid Departure Rumors

White House chief strategist Steve Bannon gave a strange interview with a progressive publication amid rumors that he’s on the outs with President Donald Trump.

Two Kids Got Locked In A Grocery Store And Did Exactly What You'd Expect

It's right out of a TV show.

Anti-Muslim Australian senator wears burqa in Parliament

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian senator provoked an angry backlash from lawmakers by wearing a burqa in Parliament on Thursday as part of her campaign for a national ban on Islamic face covers.

'I'm terrified': White nationalist Christopher Cantwell cries in video about Charlottesville protest

A white nationalist who was featured in a Vice News documentary about the "Unite the Right" Charlottesville marchers at the weekend has posted a video in which he tearfully complains about his current plight. Christopher Cantwell took part in the rally in support of Confederate hero Robert E Lee in Virginia on Saturday, which escalated to violence and ended in the death of a woman.  “I have been told there’s a warrant out for my arrest,” he said while crying on the video. “With everything that’s happening, I don’t think it’s very wise for me to go anywhere. There’s a state of emergency. The National Guard is here!” “I want to be peaceful. I want to be law-abiding. That was the whole entire point of this,” Cantwell continues. “I’m watching CNN talk about this as a violent, white nationalist protest. We have done everything in our power to keep this peaceful!” he added. He also said urged police to contact him if there was a warrant out for his arrest. “I am armed, I do not want violence with you. I’m terrified, I’m afraid you’re going to kill me, I really am,” he said. “If I gotta go to jail today, you know it won’t be the f------* first time… I honestly believe I have been law-abiding. I have been engaged in violence, I have, there’s no question about it and I’ve done nothing to hide that but it was in defence of myself and others and I would not have done it for any other reason,” he added. Cantwell was banned from Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday, while a page connected to his podcast was removed. Facebook spokeswoman Ruchika Budhraja also said at least eight pages connected to the white nationalist movement were taken down over what Budhraja said were violations on the company's polices on hate speech and organisations. Cantwell, of Keene, New Hampshire, was listed on rally flyers and labelled an extremist by the Southern Poverty Law Centre. A former information technology worker who moved to New Hampshire from New York in 2012, the 36-year-old Cantwell describes himself as a white nationalist and said he voted for President Donald Trump. He has a podcast and blog that promote his views. Cantwell says Facebook shut down his account in an attempt to silence him for his views. He also said his PayPal account had been closed. The company wouldn't confirm that because it has a policy of not commenting on the status of accounts. "I'm not surprised by almost any of this because the whole thing we are complaining about here is that we are trying to express our views, and everybody is going through extraordinary lengths to make sure we are not heard," Cantwell told AP in a phone interview from an undisclosed location. "Frankly, whatever you think of my views, that is very scary to me," he said. "Facebook and Instagram is one thing but not being able to participate in the financial system because of your political opinions is something that, you know, people should worry about in America." 

World's Saddest Right-Wing Protest Draws 7 People To Seattle's Lenin Statue

Far-right “Pizzagate” conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec tweeted videos and photos Wednesday showing him leading a group of people protesting a Vladimir Lenin statue in Seattle. Video shows Posobiec leading the group in a chant of “tear it down, tear it down” as the protesters — wearing “Make America Great Again” caps and holding placards bearing phrases like “Lenin is Hitler” and “Alt Left Hate” — marched around the statue.It appears that about 7 people, including Posobiec, attended the demonstration. Trump Supporters Demand Marxist Statue of Lenin Must Be Torn Down pic.twitter. ...

9-Foot Alligator Attacks And Kills 75 Pound Dog In Florida

Authorities are now warning residents about keeping their pets leashed.

Woman Arrested for Running Raffle Ticket Scam Using Image, Name of Boy Who Died of Cancer

Tracey Jacqueline Weir is accused of selling phony raffle tickets to support children's cancer research in the name of 4-year-old Nolan Scully.

Barack Obama responds to Barcelona terror attack: 'Un abrazo'

Barack Obama and the former First Lady Michelle have sent a message of support - and a hug - to the people of Barcelona and Spain after a terror attack that killed at least 13 people and injured scores more. “Michelle and I are thinking of the victims and their families in Barcelona. Americans will always stand with our Spanish friends,” he wrote.

Remains found in northwest Missouri identified as teen's

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bones found in a rural area in the spring are those of a 17-year-old northwest Missouri girl, family members and authorities said Wednesday, bringing them closer to solving a 10-year mystery that began when the teen walked out of her high school and disappeared.

South Korea vows no war despite North's missile threat

South Korea pledged Thursday that there would be no war on the Korean peninsula, as prospects of a pre-emptive US strike to destroy Pyongyang's nuclear missile program receded. South Korea's President Moon Jae-In moved to reassure his citizens that Seoul has an effective veto on US military action, after weeks of sabre-rattling from both US President Donald Trump and the North's Kim Jong-Un.

Canada sees 'unsustainable' spike in asylum seekers at U.S. border

TORONTO/MONTREAL (Reuters) - The number of asylum seekers who illegally crossed the U.S. border into Canada more than tripled last month, according to Canadian government data released on Thursday, as migrants worried about the U.S. administration's immigration crackdown head north. More than 3,100 people walked across the border illegally in July to file refugee claims and were arrested, up from 884 in June, the federal government said. Ninety-six percent of them went to Quebec, where an influx of asylum seekers, primarily Haitians, is sparking a backlash from opposition politicians and anti-immigrant groups in the primarily French-speaking province.

PayPal Shuts Down Access For Richard Spencer, Other Right-Wing Extremists

PayPal says it will cut off its services to hate groups and other users collecting donations to promote violence and racial intolerance in the wake of Saturday’s deadly clashes at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Man Whose Heart Was Pierced by 3-Inch Nail Drives Himself 12 Miles to Hospital

Doug Bergeson says common sense told him not to pull the nail out.

Here’s Where You Can See Every Total Solar Eclipse for the Next 50 Years

Check out where and when the next total solar eclipses will take place

The Latest: Lawyers for South Africa model consider court

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The Latest on the assault allegation against Zimbabwe first lady Grace Mugabe (all times local):

Hope Hicks: Former Trump campaign spokeswoman takes over as White House Communications Director

Hope Hicks, the former Trump campaign spokesperson and a top presidential aide, has been named interim White House Communications Director following the dramatic departure of former Director Anthony Scaramucci. Ms Hicks, who is Mr Trump’s longest-serving political aide – and one of his most trusted – will fill the position while the White House looks for a permanent replacement. The 28-year-old Greenwich, Connecticut native started working for the Trump family 2014, when Ivanka Trump hired her away from her public relations job at Hiltzik Strategies.

Muslim-baiter Hanson wears burka in Australia's Senate

Australian anti-immigration politician Pauline Hanson caused a furore Thursday when she entered the Senate wearing a full burqa, earning a blistering rebuke from the country's top lawyer for the "appalling" stunt. "Will you work to ban the burqa in Australia in light of what is happening with national security?" she said after whipping off the garment to question Attorney-General George Brandis. Brandis said his conservative government had no such plans, warning Hanson she risked offending the Muslim community by wearing a burka when she was not a follower of Islam.

How To Wash Radioactive Material From Your Body After A Nuclear Blast

According to certain guidelines, hair conditioner could bind radioactive material to your hair after exposure.

KKK Members Convicted In Plot To Kill Black Inmate While Working As Prison Guards

Two former Florida prison guards who were members of the Ku Klux Klan have been convicted of plotting to murder a black inmate after his release.

Starbucks' Howard Schultz Compared What's Going On In The U.S. Today To Nazi Germany

"I know we are better than this."

U.S. House Democratic leader Pelosi calls for Confederate statue removal

U.S. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday joined calls for the immediate removal of Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol, shortly after President Donald Trump expressed regret over statues and monuments being removed in some cities. "There is no room for celebrating the violent bigotry of the men of the Confederacy in the hallowed halls of the United States Capitol or in places of honor across the country," Pelosi said in a statement. A spokesman for Republican U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said it was up to U.S. states to determine which statues were displayed on their behalf in the Capitol building.

Photos of Dad Walking Son to Kindergarten and College Go Viral: 'Thank You, Dad'

A son thanks his father for walking him to school, from kindergarten to college.

Ex-NY governor hopeful who insulted Obamas kicked off board

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — One-time Republican candidate for New York governor Carl Paladino, whose published insults of former President Barack Obama provoked a public uproar, was removed from Buffalo's school board Thursday for improperly discussing teacher contract negotiations.

Barcelona terror attack: van crashes into crowd at Las Ramblas, killing 'at least 13'

You can continue to follow the latest from the Barcelona terror attack here.   Terror in Barcelona as van hits crowd in Las Ramblas Driver arrested after escaping scene on foot Spanish media reports 13 people killed Trump: 'we'll do whatever is necessary to help'  Barcelona attack: Everything we know  A white van plowed into a packed summer crowd this evening in Barcelona's historic Las Ramblas district. Barcelona police called it a terror attack and local media reported 13 dead and dozens more injured. The driver was arrested around two and a half hours after the attack, reports said. The vehicle hit pedestrians in Las Ramblas, a busy tree-lined promenade in the centre of the city. Catalan police tweeted "there are mortal victims and injured from the crash" without specifying any numbers. Spanish media, including Cadena SER radio station and TV3, reported up to 13 dead, while other media had varying death tolls. Pictured: the van reportedly used in the attack "Huge collision on Las Ramblas in Barcelona by an individual driving a van, many injuries," a statement from Catalan police added. Barcelona terror attack, in pictures ​ The street is one of the most well-known and popular parts of the city, visited by tourists and locals alike. Images posted on social media appear to show people being tended to as they lay on the street. Reports said the driver escaped the scene on foot and was holed up in a bar in Tallers Street. Armed police ran down the streets and through a market, checking in stores and cafes. In photographs and videos, at least five people could be seen lying on the ground in the streets of the northern Spanish city on Thursday afternoon, being helped by police and others. Other video recorded people screaming as they fled the van. Mapped: Barcelona van attack Carol Augustin, a manager at La Palau Moja, an 18th-century place on Las Ramblas that houses government offices and a tourism information center, said the van passed right in front of the building. "We saw everything. People started screaming and running into the office. It was such a chaotic situation. There were families with children. The police made us close the doors and wait inside," she said. While full details of the incident were not immediately clear, since July 2016 vehicles have been used to ram into crowds in a series of militant attacks across Europe, killing well over 100 people in Nice, Berlin, London and Stockholm.     7:29PM Theresa May: 'UK stands with Spain against terror' Britain "stands with Spain against terror", Prime Minister Theresa May said following the deadly attack. "My thoughts are with the victims of today's terrible attack in Barcelona and the emergency services responding to this ongoing incident. The UK stands with Spain against terror," the prime minister wrote on Twitter. 7:04PM Donald Trump: we'll do whatever is necessary to help The United States condemns the terror attack in Barcelona, Spain, and will do whatever is necessary to help. Be tough & strong, we love you!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017   7:01PM Melania Trump send her thoughts and prayers The US first lady tweeted: Thoughts and prayers to #Barcelona— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 17, 2017   7:00PM Suspect arrested Spanish public broadcaster RTVE says one suspect in the Barcelona van attack has been arrested.  6:43PM Passport 'found at scene' Barcelona's Tv3 reports that the Spanish passport of a person of Moroccan origin was found at the scene of the attack. 6:42PM Second van 'found by police' Reuters, citing local authorities, reports that a second van has been found by police in the town of Vic, north of Barcelona. 6:39PM Jeremy Corbyn tweets his support Terrible reports from Barcelona. My thoughts are with those killed and injured, and the emergency services working to save lives.— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) August 17, 2017   6:36PM London stands with Barcelona Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has tweeted: My thoughts are with the victims of this barbaric terrorist attack in the great city of Barcelona and with their brave emergency services.— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) August 17, 2017   6:16PM 'There was a mini stampede'  Ethan Spibey, a charity director on holiday in the city, said he had taken shelter in a nearby church with several others after Thursday's van ramming. "All of a sudden it was real kind of chaos... people just started running screaming," he told Sky. "There was kind of a mini stampede. "It seems like a lot of people have taken refuge in shops and local cafes." A woman cries as she phones after a van ploughed into the crowd, killing one person and injuring several others on the Rambla in Barcelona Credit:  AFP/Getty Images A video circulating on social media showed at least 19 people lying injured on the pavement down the centre of Las Ramblas. Many victims can be seen bleeding, some heavily, while being tended to by passersby. Souvenirs are strewn across the path, having apparently been knocked over in the chaos. Armed police are visible in the background. 6:12PM One death confirmed by police A police official in Barcelona has said that one death has been confirmed, and 32 others have been injured in the van attack, ten of which are seriously injured.  At least 56 people have been taken to hospitals across the city, according to local newspaper La Vanguardia.    6:08PM Van 'was going very fast, without caring about who was in its way' TV3 says it now has official confirmation that thirteen people are dead. It also says there are dozens of injured. Eyewitness Lourdes Porcar told TV3 television station that she saw the van running people over. “It was going very fast, without caring about who was in its way,” she said. Police have set up roadblocks around the city amid reports that a second van was involved in the attack and fled the scene. Injured people are treated in Barcelona, Spain There are also reports that at least on attacker is holed up in a Turkish restaurant on Carrer Hospital, which leads off from the spot in which the van appears to have come to a halt. Television pictures show that a van came to a halt on top of a Joan Miro mosaic, half-way down Las Ramblas - meaning that it would have covered more than 500 metres. 5:59PM Las Ramblas potentially deadliest attack since 2004 bombing The deadliest recent attack in Spain was in March 2004, when Islamist militants placed bombs on commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people and wounding more than 1,800.   5:55PM Death toll 'could be as high as 13' Reuters reports that at least 13 people have been killed in the attack, citing local media.  5:52PM President has been informed, says White House The White House's chief of staff said it was keeping President Trump closely informed about the situation. 5:49PM 'Second van' linked to attack Police are looking for a second van that may have been involved in the attack, Sky News reports 5:49PM Tourists speak of shock  Police stationed at the cordon a block away from Plaza Catalunya, on Passeig de Gracia, say they have no information what is happening inside. Confused tourists, shoppers and business owners gathered at its edges, awaiting some word or direction as to what to do.  Ines Prauka, a 49 year old tourist from Berlin arrived with her 14 year old daughter Adel for a one week holiday just an hour or two before the attack. Injured people are treated by emergency services at the scene They had just checked in to an apartment at the top of the Ramblas and come out in search of a supermarket to find pandemonium on the street. "Everybody was running and panicking and crying," she said. Ambulances arrived and police told them to run away, but they did not understand as the orders came in Spanish, she said, and had to ask.  Ms Prauka was clearly in shock and struggled to speak at times. "It's unbelievable. Two hours in Barcelona and this. We are shocked. Policemen accompany an elderly woman near a cordoned off area Credit:  PAU BARRENA "It's the first time we've been in a situation of everyone crying and panicking around us, we didn't know if it was terrorism, a bomb." Berlin had been touched by terrorism but they had never experienced it personally, she said, adding that she did not know where to take her daughter now.  "A one week summer holiday in Barcelona and that was the start," she said.   5:45PM Barcelona police to hold press conference Local police are expected to begin a press conference in around ten minutes. Stay with us for the latest updates.  5:39PM 'There was panic everywhere," says eyewitness Daksha Dixit, a 28 year old tourist visiting from Mumbai with family, said they had been on a tourist bus which had just dropped them off one block from Plaza Cataluña when they heard the news. "We got off and people were panicking, no one knew what was going on. There was panic everywhere." An injured person is carried in Barcelona, Spain Credit:  Oriol Duran/AP The family arrived just yesterday for a one week trip and their hotel is on the Ramblas inside the cordon. They were unclear as to what exactly was unfolding, with Miss Dixit adding: "I don't know what to do". 5:32PM Attacker used rented van Catalan police say they are treating the crash as a suspected terrorist attack but cannot yet confirm the motive.  It has also been reported that the attack vehicle was a rented van.  That would suggest, if this is confirmed as a terrorist attack, that same terrorists are imitating the perpetrators of the London Bridge attack, where a rented van was also used.  Injured people react after a van crashed into pedestrians in Las Ramblas, downtown Barcelona,   5:26PM 'We heard gunshots...there was screaming and shouting'  Steve Garrett was in a nearby market and sheltered in a bakery with several others after streams of people ran inside. One member of the group, who took refuge with him, said she had heard gunshots after the incident. Armed police officers patrol an empty street after a van crashed into pedestrians near the Las Ramblas avenue in central Barcelona Credit:  REUTERS Mr Garrett told the BBC: "A very large number of people ran into the market area in a big kind of way, lots of screaming, lots of shouting. "The security guards immediately responded. We ran into the bakery with four or five other people and ran straight upstairs and hunkered down whilst an enormous wave of people went through the market. An armed policeman arrives in a cordoned off area after a van ploughed into the crowd, injuring several persons on the Rambla "Obviously coming from England it was reminding me a great deal of what happened in London, so we were very concerned about what might be going on next. Police speak to an injured person at the scene. Local media report the van driver ran away "The lady that was with us said she heard some gunshots." Mr Garrett said a "second wave" of people then entered the market, followed by armed police.  Screengrab taken with permission from video posted on twitter by @pawilerma of the scene in Las Ramblas He said: "They seemed to sweep through the market area. They seemed to be looking for someone. They were going very carefully, very cautiously, stall to stall." Jordi Lino was on a bus going down the Ramblas when he saw the attack: "First I saw people running and then the van. There were injured people in the middle of the Ramblas." 5:20PM Footage appears to show crash vehicle Footage appears to show damaged vehicle in cordoned-off Barcelona street 00:31   5:16PM Confusion and panic in Las Ramblas Telegraph reporter Hannah Strange has arrived at Las Ramblas, where she says there is a very heavy police presence,  confusion, and helicopters flying overhead.  Local media is reporting is that several people have died.   The Spanish newspaper El Pais quoted unnamed police sources as saying the perpetrators of the crash were holed up in a bar in Tallers Street. There was no immediate police confirmation of the report. Inside the glossy stores of Passeig de Gracia, shoppers and staff sheltered behind glass windows. Many streamed away from the cordon but others stayed on the street in an eerie limbo, the ambulances racing past the only clue as to the status of the situation.   5:14PM Armed police pictured at scene Omg �� #barcelonapic.twitter.com/p0jZd25oxx— sommermädchen (@_corazondelsol) August 17, 2017   5:12PM Restaurant hostage situation is ongoing Two armed men have entrenched themselves in a Turkish bar and restaurant in Barcelona's city centre after a van mowed down dozens of people, El Periodico newspaper reported on Wednesday. El Periodico reported gunfire in the area of La Boqueria Market, although it did not cite the source of the information. It was not immediately clear that the men were the drivers of the van.  5:06PM Several bodies lay in street in aftermath of attack In a photograph shown by public broadcaster RTVE, three people were lying on the ground in the street of the northern Spanish city Thursday afternoon, apparently being helped by police and others. Videos of the scene recorded people screaming as they fled. A police officer cordon off a street in Barcelona, Spain Police cordoned off the broad, popular street, ordering stores and nearby Metro and train stations to close. They asked people to stay away from the area so as not to get in the way of emergency services. A helicopter hovered over the scene. 5:02PM 'It was chaos...everyone was in panic mode' Aamer Anwar was walking down Las Ramblas at the time, which he said was "jam-packed" with tourists. He told Sky News: "All of a sudden, I just sort of heard a crashing noise and the whole street just started to run, screaming. I saw a woman right next to me screaming for her kids. "Police were very, very quickly there, police officers with guns, batons, everywhere. Then the whole street started getting pushed back." Panicked onlookers at the scene of the attack Mr Anwar described the scene as "chaos", with everyone in "panic mode". He added: "Police officers who got there just started screaming at people to move back, move back. "One of the shopkeepers tried to speak to him. He said he saw five or six people seriously injured on the ground, a van had driven into people. "And literally within probably 30 seconds, police vans, ambulances, police officers with guns, were piling out and we were being sectioned off and then being pushed rapidly back down Ramblas." 4:51PM Eyewitness: It was terriyfying One witness told Sky News: "It was quite terrifying. All of a sudden scores of people ran towards us, hysterical, children hysterical... first of all they said someone had been shot. ��Atropello múltiple en las #Ramblas. Se solicita a los ciudadanos no transitar por la zona de Plaza Catalunya. +info @emergenciescat— Policía Nacional (@policia) August 17, 2017 "All of a sudden a second wave of people came down the street, we just ran, I lost my husband in the melee. The shops went into lockdown mode." She added: "We really had no idea what was going on other than that we needed to get ourselves out of there very quickly... there was just hundreds of people running away very quickly."  Police at the scene of the crash Another said: "We were just told to run, it must have been quite close because... there was an immediate stampede to run away. We were just a minute away from it." 4:50PM Local media: Armed men have entered a restaurant Spanish media is now reporting that armed men entered a restaurant shortly after the attack took place.  4:48PM Emergency services  - close nearby train and metro stations Catalan emergency services have asked that nearby metro stations be closed. Here are some images of the scene.  A policeman stands next to an ambulance after a van ploughed into the crowd, injuring several persons   4:43PM Suspected driver 'fled on foot' The suspected driver has fled the vehicle, according to local police. It remains unclear whether the crash is terror-related.  4:41PM Reports suggest the crash happened outside a Kosher restaurant After seeing photos, does appear that the van hit people outside Barcelona's Kosher restaurant, Maccabi, but also in a much wider area.— Arieh Kovler (@ariehkovler) August 17, 2017   4:39PM Several victims treated on the ground In a photograph shown by public broadcaster RTVE, three people were lying on the ground in the street and were apparently being helped by police and others. Police cordoned off the broad street and shut down its stores  4:38PM The scene in La Rambla The scene in La Rambla   4:35PM Las Ramblas Las Ramblas is an iconic avenue in the centre of Barcelona, visited by millions of tourists every year 4:31PM Area evacuated The local police force was said to be evacuating the area including the nearby main square the Plaza de Catalunya. Shops have put up their shutters with shoppers inside, newspaper La Vanguardia reported.

George Bush issues joint statement with father condemning 'racial bigotry and hatred' in Charlottesville

Two former US presidents have issued a strong statement condemning the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia – one day after President Donald Trump failed to do so. “As we pray for Charlottesville, we are reminded of the fundamental truths recorded by that city’s most prominent citizen in the Declaration of Independence: we are all created equal and endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights,” the prominent Republicans wrote. The statement comes on the heels of the largest white nationalist gathering in the US in decades.

Powerball Jackpot Jumps to $510 Million After No Winning Tickets Sold

With a cash value of $324.2 million

Yes, A Big Victory In Texas On The Trans Bathroom Bill, But The Battle Is Far From Over

Celebration is in order in Texas and around the country, as an attempt to pass a transgender “bathroom” bill went down in flames in a special session.