The city of Barcelona has commemorated the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 17-A, which occurred on La Rambla and in Cambrils. This year, the central event was relocated for the first time to Plaça de Sant Jaume, a change explained by the ongoing works on La Rambla, specifically at the Pla de l'Ós, the point where the van that caused 15 deaths was stopped.
The tribute, which began around 10 AM, emphasized the remembrance of the deceased victims, the injured, and the affected families. Fàtima Saheb, writer and activist, stated, "It is a memory that unites us all, carrying names, surnames, faces, and life stories." The importance of remembering was highlighted as a way to care for and keep people alive in the city's collective memory, advocating for values such as coexistence, peace, and tolerance.
Actress Marta Bayarri read the poem "Parlem de tu" by Miquel Martí Pol, while Jofre Bardagí closed the event with a performance of Txarango's "Compta amb mi." The ceremony maintained a solemn tone and concluded with a minute of silence. Various authorities attended, including the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, the President of the Parliament, Josep Rull, and the first vice-president, Raquel Sans.
Concurrently, about thirty people, many of them members of the Catalan Association of Victims of Terrorist Organizations, gathered in the square to demand accountability from the administrations. They displayed banners such as "State murderer" and "Spanish state accomplice," denouncing the lack of follow-up and pending compensation. Robert Manrique, a victim of the Hipercor attack, criticized that "after nine years, seeing that there are still 136 people from the sentence who have not been financially compensated is sad and shows a lack of interest," describing the situation as "abandonment."
Junts' Member of Congress, Pilar Calvo, emphasized the right to truth, noting that her party continues to promote an investigation commission in the Congress of Deputies to declassify the events. The President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, highlighted the need for "coexistence, democracy, and peace" in the face of "hatred and barbarism." Other politicians such as Carles Puigdemont and Elisenda Alamany also expressed their remembrance and commitment to memory and justice.
The event saw a moment of tension when the leader of Vox in the Barcelona City Council, Gonzalo de Oro, left amidst shouts from some protesters who called him a "provocateur."
