Man shot dead in broad daylight attack in Barcelona hours before visit of Pope
The man was shot in the head according to an eye witness
A man has been shot dead in broad daylight at a popular tourist hotspot in Barcelona just hours before Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to to visit.
Listen to this article
The victim was killed at around 10am local time (9pm BST) on Carrer de Balmes before the gunman reportedly fled the scene.
According to a witness reported in local media, the suspected killer stalked the man from behind before shooting him in the head.
The incident occurred outside a police office responsible for issuing national ID cards, in the so-called "Hollywood Hills" suburb of the city.
Read more: Two men jailed for their part in Southampton disorder after Henry Nowak murder
Police have launched a manhunt to find the suspect who is said to have fled after realising his victim was dead.
Officers have recovered the weapon and bullets near a bus stop.
The victim’s identity and the motivation behind the attack have not yet been disclosed but it marks the third shooting in the city in the space of recent weeks.
The popular holiday spot was already been in a heightened state due to the visit from Pope Leo XIV to the Sagrada Família scheduled for later this evening.
An estimated 6,000 officers were deployed to lock down large parts of the area with road blocks in place.
Police have ruled out any link between the shooting and the Pope’s visit, Spanish TV station Antena 3 reports.
The city's mayor has claimed organised crime was linked to the latest shooting.
Police have released a CCTV image of the suspected gunman which shows appearing to be wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts, and is seemingly holding the gun and bicycle helmet that police later recovered.