Thirteen people were injured during an alarming incident outside the Espanyol versus Barcelona derby match on Thursday evening, when a car careened into a gathering of fans. The match, which saw Barcelona clinch the La Liga title with a 2-0 win, experienced a brief delay as police briefed the referee about the situation. Local authorities report that four of the injured persons were transported to a hospital, although none were said to be in critical condition.
According to a police statement, the event posed no further risk to spectators within the stadium. Officials have since arrested the driver on allegations of dangerous driving and causing harm. Eyewitness footage shared on social media captured the moment when the vehicle, previously stationary among bins outside the stadium, accelerated into the crowd of fans congregated to greet the Espanyol coach.
Emergency responders exhibited swift action, dispatching ten ambulances to the scene. The most notable injury recorded was a broken leg, but officials emphasized that the situation remained largely under control. Salvador Illa, the president of the Government of Catalonia, reassured viewers on Spanish television network Movistar Plus, stating, "It was an accident; there were some injuries but not severe ones. There are no major incidents to report."