Catalan and Spanish governments express commitment to fighting terrorism after Barcelona attack

Unusual show of unity between Catalan and Spanish authorities in the fight against terrorism. On Thursday the Spanish president, Mariano Rajoy, attended a joint cabinet crisis meeting between the Catalan and Spanish executives, along with the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, and Barcelona mayor, Ada Colau. “We have woken up determined to win the battle against terrorism, and we have done it with our society’s best weapons: solidarity, a determination to get along, freedom and respect,” said Puigdemont in an appearance after the joint cabinet crisis.

“It is very important that we are able to work together and that we are able to exchange everything needed,” stated Rajoy in the same press conference. The head of the Spanish executive also expressed his commitment to work “as a team”. The Catalan president praised the coordination between the local, Catalan and Spanish security forces on Thursday evening. Spanish president Mariano Rajoy will leave Barcelona on Thursday evening, after a visit lasting less than 24 hours.