THE Union Jack flying over Redditch town hall will be lowered to half mast today as a mark of respect following the terrorist attacks in Spain yesterday (Thursday) and this morning (Friday).
Councillor Bill Hartnett, the leader of Redditch Borough Council, said he and the authority’s deputy mayor Nina Wood-Ford (Mayor Jenny Wheeler is on holiday) would be writing to the civic leaders of the resort of Cambrils and the city of Barcelona to express their sympathy.
In Cambrils this morning Spanish police shot dead five suspected terrorists as they escaped after driving a vehicle into a group of people, injuring seven.
The men were reportedly wearing explosive belts but after a series of controlled explosions these were later found to be fake.
In Barcelona on Thursday afternoon 15 people were killed and scores injured after a van was driven into pedestrians in the popular thoroughfare known as Las Ramblas.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for both attacks.
Coun Hartnett said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and victims of these two terror attacks.”
