Barcelona’s bitter rival Real Madrid ‘stands together’ with attack victims

Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo have offered messages of support to the terror attack victims in Barcelona.Denis Doyle / Getty Images

Real Madrid has put football rivalry to the side as it stands shoulder to shoulder with the victims of Thursday’s terror attack in Barcelona.

Fourteen people were killed and more than 100 others injured after a van rammed into tourists on the busy Las Ramblas street at 5 p.m. local time (CET).

Three people have been arrested in connection with the attack. Later, police shot five suspected terrorists dead after a separate incident in the city of Cambrils.

Real Madrid, which recently defeated FC Barcelona by a 5-1 aggregate score in the Spanish Super Cup, expressed “its deepest sorrow” over the attack.

“Real Madrid stands together with the victims, their families, and their friends,” a statement on the club’s official website says. “It also hopes for the quickest possible recovery to all those injured in the incident.”

Real Madrid’s players and coaches stood in a circle and held a minute’s silence before they began their training session today.

Some of the most prominent Real Madrid players have also reacted to the attack.

Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo tweeted: “Dismayed by the news arriving from Barcelona. Full support and solidarity with the family and friends of the victims.”

France striker Karim Benzema said: “My sympathy and support to the families of the victims of the attack in Barcelona. My heart is with you.”

Gareth Bale tweeted: “Thoughts are with everyone in Barcelona tonight.”