BARCELONA, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Catalan police (Mossos d'Esquadra) evacuated the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona as part of an "anti-terrorist operation" on Tuesday evening.
The announcement was made at around 8:30 p.m. local time after the police evacuated the symbol of Barcelona and also closed the metro station.
The police tweeted, "as part of an anti-terrorist operation, we are carrying out checks and have sealed off the area," adding that the streets "Provenca, Rosello and Sardenya " had been closed and advising people likely to pass the area to find an alternative route.
The evacuation coincided with FC Barcelona's debut in the Campions League under strict security measures with the police asking for "patience" from supporters.
It is thought that the Sagrada Familia was one of the targets originally chosen by the perpetrators who carried out the Aug. 17 attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils where 16 people lost their lives.
