Who's to Blame for Barcelona?

As you collect relevant information about the terrorist attack on Barcelona yesterday you will be interested to see how local authorities rationalized their failure to protect Las Ramblas. 

They knew the attack was coming. They were warned about it. They were told to put up barriers. But, in an impressive show of pure passivity, Barcelona’s mayor decided that she could do nothing to stop the attack.

The Daily Mail reports:

Barcelona security chiefs rejected calls last year to install barriers at Las Ramblas to protect pedestrians from an attack by terrorists in a vehicle, it emerged today.

The Catalan interior ministry and police chiefs recommended that Barcelona City Hall install massive bollards to protect the boulevard - following similar attacks in Berlin and Nice.

The interior ministry recommended that 'strategic points which could be targets for terrorist attacks are isolated either with physical objects or with police officers.'

The City Hall's Local Security Board met to discuss the proposed measures with the local police force the Mossos d'Esquadra, the National Police, the Civil Guard and the fire service.

But they opted instead to increase police presence on Las Ramblas and other vulnerable areas.

This was despite Spain being on level 4 terror alert, one below the maximum of 5.

And it came in spite of reports the CIA had specifically warned that Las Ramblas could be a target for an attack.

Barcelona mayor Ada Colau said 'protocols were revised' following the meeting and measures taken including increased police patrols and prohibiting vehicles during some major events.

She said: '100 per cent security does not exist, especially when there are people ready to carry out atrocities with very rudimentary means.'

In a better world Mayor Ada Colau would resign in disgrace. Alas, we do not live in a better world.

It is a familiar story. The same thing happened in London, under the leadership of the weak-kneed Sadiq Khan:

Authorities in London ruled out measures to install barriers on the bridge just 24 hours before three terrorists drove a van at crowds of people.

Barriers were installed on the bridge shortly after the attack which left six dead and 48 injured.

When leaders are not held to account for their dereliction, the terrorism will continue.