Police launch manhunt operation after fatal shooting near Barcelona

Catalan police are searching for a gunman responsible for a shooting that left one person dead on Wednesday morning in Montgat, a town in the Maresme region, north of Barcelona.

Authorities have activated 'Operation Cage', a special containment operation previously deployed during incidents like the 2017 terrorist attacks. This strategy involves sealing off an area to intensify the search for suspects and facilitate their arrest.

The incident occurred at around 9 am when a man shot another man who was sitting on a cafe terrace before fleeing on a motorbike. The police suspect that two individuals may be involved in the crime.

The shooter is a man aged between 35 and 40 based on witness statements, as reported by the Catalan News Agency (ACN).  

Witnesses said the shooter fled on a black scooter driven by another person who was waiting a few feet from the cafe.

The shooting took place near a school, although it happened after all children were safely inside.

The City Council has offered psychological support due to the potential impact on the children, but the school has declined as it has activated its internal protocol for such cases.