BARCELONA: Spain’s King Felipe VI joined thousands of people in a defiant march against terror through Barcelona on Saturday following last week’s deadly vehicle rampages.

People who tended the victims of the attack were given pride of place at the front of the procession behind a large white- and-black banner that read “No tinc por” — Catalan for “I’m not afraid”.

They included uniformed police officers, doctors in their white coats, firefighters wearing their helmets and residents and shop owners who rushed to help after a van struck people on the Las Ramblas avenue, as well as taxi drivers who transported people free.

“Its good that people see that we are the front of march and that we are no afraid,” said Barbara Cabello, 22, who works at one of the flower stands on Las Ramblas, a symbol of the city.

The marchers carried red, yellow and white flowers — the colours of Barcelona — as they made their way along the city’s main boulevard, the Paseo de Gracia, to the Plaza de Catalunya, near where the attack took place.

“No to Islamophobia” and “The best response: Peace” were among the signs on display at the march, which was broadcast live on Spanish public television.

The Mediterranean city is in mourning after a driver ploughed into crowds on Las Ramblas on August 17, followed hours later by a car attack in the seaside resort town of Cambrils.

Fifteen were killed in the carnage and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had called on Spaniards to turn out in force to show their “love” and solidarity with Catalonia.

The march will “once again give a clear message of unity and condemnation of terrorism, and of love for the city of Barcelona,”, Rajoy said on the eve of the demonstration.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2017