A YOUNG woman has been stabbed to death in a wealthy Barcelona suburb just yards from three international schools.
The horrific daylight knife attack took place on Saturday morning in the highly sought-after Finestrelles area of Esplugues de Llobregat.
Authorities confirmed the victim was a teenager of Asian origin who suffered multiple stab wounds to her chest and abdomen, as well as a fatal slash to her neck.
Witnesses told local TV news that the attacker shouted in the name of Allah before lunging at pedestrians, sparking fears of a lone-wolf terror attack.
A 58-year-old man also suffered defensive stab wounds to his arm during the random assault, which occurred in a quiet residential neighbourhood near a children’s hospital.
He has since been treated for his injuries and is out of danger.
The alleged killer fled the bloody scene but was intercepted by Mossos d’Esquadra officers as he walked down the middle of the traffic lanes on the busy Avinguda Diagonal.
He actively threatened the officers with his blade before being pinned to the ground and arrested at gunpoint in the Les Corts district.
Detectives have emphatically ruled out domestic violence, confirming the suspect and the victim had no known prior relationship.
A judge has placed a strict secrecy order on the investigation while police probe the alleged terror motives.
The brutal murder has sent shockwaves through the local expat community, as the Finestrelles area is a popular enclave for international families drawn to its prestigious schools and perceived safety.
National police union JUPOL publicly condemned the killing, taking to social media to warn that Spain ‘cannot become a criminal paradise’.
Esplugues Town Hall has declared two days of official mourning with flags flying at half-mast, and has called for a public rally and a minute’s silence at 6pm on Monday.
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