A 7-year-old Australian boy is missing in Barcelona after being separated from his mother during Thursday’s deadly attack.
His mother, Jumarie ‘Jom’ Cadman, was hospitalized after sustaining serious injuries to her spine and face. She is currently stable in an induced coma.
The mother and son, whose name is Julian, were reportedly visiting Barcelona for a wedding. They were strolling along the La Rambla pedestrian mall when the terrorists’ van ploughed through and separated them, killing 13 and injuring more than 130 others.
The boy’s father, Andrew Cadman, found out about the attack at 6 a.m. when tuning into the news over the radio. He was at work at the time.
Cadman tried to call his wife, and when he couldn’t get through, he became concerned and contacted Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“He started to get some sort of news… they had found his wife in hospital at 8:30 a.m. this morning,” Mr Cadman’s boss, Scott Bowman, told the Newscorp Australia.
“All that we’ve been told is that she is in a serious condition, she has got multiple fractures everywhere—arms, legs, severe facial injuries. She has suspected spinal injuries and possible internal injuries,” said Bowman.
Cadman then decided to fly from Sydney to Barcelona Friday evening, and is hoping to join with extended family in the search for Julian, who had spoken to his father on the phone just hours before the attack.
“We don’t know if he is dead or alive at the moment, I’m having trouble grasping that 10 hours can pass and a seven year old is in a country by himself,” Bowman told Newscorp, “I can’t comprehend what he is going through. It is just the three of them, they are close.”
At the time of the attack, family members believe Julian was wearing a white shirt with a collar and shorts.
Tony Cadman, Julian’s grandfather, has put out a call for help to find his grandson on Facebook, “Please share if you have family or friends in Barcelona.”
Julian was born in the U.K. and moved to Australia three years ago with this Australian father and mother, who is from the Philippines.
Spaniards are is still coming to terms with what is now three related terrorist incidents—an explosion at a house in Alcanar, the Las Ramblas pedestrian mall attack, and the Cambrils pedestrian attack—which all took place within 24 hours and killed 14 civilians. The attacks have now been linked to a terror cell, which police are still investigating.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson confirmed that one American was killed and another injured. In total, those affected are from 34 countries including France, Germany, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
Spanish authorities have confirmed that Moussa Oukabir, 17, who is believed to be the driver of the van was shot and killed by police along with four other terrorists in Cambrils, Reuters reported. One police officer was also killed at the scene.
From NTD.tv
UPDATE: The driver of the van has now been identified by authorities. See update.