MADRID — The Saudi embassy in Madrid has announced that it has evacuated 16 Saudi families who were present at the site of the terror attack in Barcelona on Thursday to a safe area away from the crowds in the tourist areas.

The embassy confirmed that none of the Saudi nationals were among the casualties. It said that the embassy’s team received many calls from the police and hospitals.

The embassy added that the citizens were evacuated from the site of La Ramblas Tourist Zone to a safe area, using the embassy vehicles along with free transport service provided by Barcelona Municipality to help the crowds of tourists at the scene of the incident and in its vicinity.

A number of citizens were also transferred to temporary alternative accommodation, due to lack of access to their hotels in the center of the tourist area of La Ramblas in Barcelona. No one was allowed to enter the hotels in the area, as the scene of the attack was cordoned off completely. — Al Arabiya English/SPA