The remembrance event for the victims of the 2017 attacks will be held on August 17 in Sant Jaume Square, as the memorial on La Rambla is undergoing renovations.
On August 17, nine years will have passed since the jihadist attacks that struck Barcelona and Cambrils, resulting in 16 deaths and over 350 injuries. The central remembrance event, which each year gathers victims, families, and authorities at the Pla de l'Os on La Rambla, will change its location this year due to the ongoing renovation works that began in 2023 and are expected to be completed by early 2027.
The Barcelona City Council has agreed with the representative entities of the affected parties that the tribute will take place on Monday, August 17, at 10:00 hours in Sant Jaume Square, in front of the Generalitat Palace and the city hall. The decision, according to municipal sources, has been made by mutual agreement to ensure that the event takes place in an appropriate setting while the original memorial is inaccessible.
During the ceremony, which will be brief and simple, a poem is expected to be read, a musical piece performed, and a minute of silence observed. Unlike previous editions, there will be no floral offering. The city council emphasizes that the event maintains an emotional and commemorative tone, although in past occasions it has also served for victims to express their grievances regarding the lack of attention from the administrations.
The attacks on August 17, 2017, caused immense shock in the city and throughout the country. The van that crashed into La Rambla sped for half a kilometre before stopping at the Pla de l'Os, next to the mural by Joan Miró and in front of the Liceu. A memorial was established there, which hosts the tribute each year, but the comprehensive renovation works on the promenade have necessitated finding an alternative.
The victims were from ten different nationalities, aged between three and 80 years. After years of demands, the Generalitat reopened a service for victims of terrorism in 2025. Additionally, this summer, the film 'Cronos' is set to premiere, recounting the police operation of 17A based on real testimonies.
The Barcelona City Council has confirmed that the event will be open to the public and that usual security measures will be maintained. Victims' entities have positively assessed the relocation, although they insist on the need for the La Rambla memorial to regain its prominence once the works are completed.
You may also like
