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Spanish police have arrested a man after he attempted to enter a popular tourist landmark with a suitcase filled with ammunition.

The major security alert took place Barcelona's Sagrada Familia basilica earlier on Sunday.

The incident comes just days after police stepped up security in the city amidst fears that a Christmas attack was being planned.

The Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested a French citizen as he tried to enter the temple with five magazines for a nine-millimetre gun in a suitcase or backpack.

Security officers stopped him as he went through metal detectors. It is understood no gun was found though there are reports a weapon was discovered in a nearby car.

(Image: REUTERS)

The man is claiming he was invited to a private mass after going out for shooting practice and had "forgotten" he was still carrying ammunition.

He says he is a French soldier but this has yet to be verified.

Officers with the Catalan police have arrested him for illegal possession of arms.

Spanish newspapers say the ammunition was detected inside a suitcase when the detainee crossed the security arch that protects the monument.

The Mossos d'Esquadra have initiated an investigation to clarify the facts. Police sources say the detainee is collaborating and that they do not believe that he intended to carry out an attack on the Sagrada Familia

This incident comes after the Catalan police reinforced surveillance and spot checks in crowded areas of Barcelona for fear of a possible terrorist threat during the Christmas holidays.

The security forces maintain the anti-terrorist alert at level 4 out of 5.</s>BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The Latest on Spanish Cabinet meeting being held in Barcelona (all times local):

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Spanish Cabinet members have arrived in a central Barcelona palace for a weekly Cabinet meeting that has been moved to the Catalan capital despite separatists’ protests against it.

Sanchez’s Socialist administration planned the meeting to convey an image of normalcy, but tension remains high in Catalonia despite progress in talks on Thursday with the pro-secession president of the northeastern region.

Some scuffles have broken out on Friday in central Barcelona between pro-independence protesters trying to reach the venue of the Cabinet meeting and police trying to stop them.

The regional Mossos d’Esquadra police force says that one protester has been arrested for public disorder near the headquarters of Spain’s National Police in a downtown avenue.

The meeting normally takes place in Madrid, but Sanchez has vowed to take it to other Spanish cities as a gesture of commitment to decentralization.

Catalan authorities say protesters angry about Spain’s Cabinet holding a meeting in Barcelona have blocked a major highway and dozens of roads, disrupting traffic to and from the city.

Pro-independence protesters called the protests to show their disgust at Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s decision to lead the weekly Cabinet meeting in Barcelona.

Security in the prosperous northeastern region, normally in the hands of the Catalan police, has been reinforced with hundreds of anti-riot officers from Spain’s national police force.

Sanchez has agreed with the pro-secession leader of the region, Quim Torra, to work on finding a solution to the political crisis that has festered since Catalonia’s failed secession attempt last year. Their meeting on Thursday was only the second since both took power earlier this year.

Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.</s>A Frenchman has been arrested after sparking a terror scare at Barcelona's Sagrada Familia when he was caught carrying five handgun magazines for a 9mm pistol.

A small dagger and a 'semiautomatic knife' are also thought to have been discovered in a rucksack he was carrying when he tried to get into the city centre temple.

Police are said to have found a weapon with its series number erased in his car, which was parked nearby.

The man, understood to be a soldier, was being held this morning in police cells ahead of a behind-closed-doors court appearance. The arrest happened just before 5.30pm yesterday.

Sagrada Familia security guards alerted cops after detecting the munition in a rucksack as the Frenchman passed through a metal detector on his way into the Gaudi-designed temple, one of the intended targets of the terrorists behind the August 17 2017 Las Ramblas massacre.

Local reports said Spanish authorities had confirmed he was a soldier after he claimed he had been doing shooting practice in the south of France and left the magazines in his rucksack by mistake.

The detainee, who was with his girlfriend, is said to have cooperated fully with police.

A spokesman for the regional Mossos d'Esquadra said he was unable to confirm reports the Frenchman was a soldier or the possibility he was planning a terror attack had been ruled out because the investigation 'remained open.'

He said: 'The investigation remains open. All I can confirm at this stage is a man has been arrested in the vicinity of the Sagrada Familia.

'He is currently in police custody. He can be held for up to 72 hours so he could go before a judge today or tomorrow.

'He was arrested on suspicion of illegal possession of weapons.'

Last week it emerged police in Barcelona had been warned a Moroccan man could carry out a terror attack on Christmas Day.

Officers were told the Casablanca-born terrorist may try to commit a spectacular massacre in the Catalan capital using a coach or similar type of vehicle.

The terror warning was highlighted by several Spanish papers on Christmas Eve who said they had seen an internal alert sent to regional Mossos d'Esquadra officers.

The revelation surfaced after the US state department tweeted: 'Spain. Exercise heightened caution around areas of vehicle movement including buses in the Las Ramblas area of Barcelona during Christmas and New Year.

'Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, and other public areas.'

Catalan Interior Minister Miquel Buch later confirmed the existence of the terror alert.

He said in a radio interview: 'It's one more of those we receive. No doubt this case is a little different because of the US State Department tweet.

'All are investigated and worked on thoroughly. This is one more.'

Moroccan Younes Abouyaaqoub, 22, used a rented van to mow down and kill 15 people including British-born Julian Cadman, seven, in Barcelona's famous Las Ramblas on August 17 2017.

More than 130 people were injured.

Police shot dead Younes in vineyards in Subirats an hour's drive west of Barcelona after he went on the run following the Barcelona massacre. He was later buried in an unmarked grave in a funeral held in secret in his homeland.

The terrorists behind the deadly Barcelona attack, and another hours later in nearby Cambrils, had planned to use butane gas cylinders to blow up iconic landmarks including the Sagrada Familia.

More than 20 butane gas canisters were found intact in the wreckage of their bomb factory.

Traces of triacetone triperoxide, a peroxide-based explosive known as TATP or the Mother of Satan which police believe the terror gang were going to use to detonate the gas, were also discovered.</s>Barcelona news LIVE updates: All the latest news and gossip from the Nou Camp

Kosmos, founded by Pique, who is also the CEO and president of the firm, is most famous for its takeover of tennis's Davis Cup, injecting $3 billion dollars into the competition over the next 25 years.

FC Andorra, founded in 1942, play in the First Regional Catalan Division and spent 14 seasons in Spain's regionalised third tier, Segunda Division B.

"The General Assembly of FC Andorra has unanimously approved the transmission of its assets in favour of an Andorran company jointly managed by different investors, including Kosmos," said the company's statement.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has expanded his business empire by taking over tiny Spanish lower-league soccer club FC Andorra.

Barcelona news LIVE updates: All the latest news and gossip from the Nou Camp

Barcelona have denied the existence of any agreement with PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot and insist they have not broken the rules over his potential recruitment.

Barcelona, along with several Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Arsenal, have been linked with the 23-year-old, whose contract expires in June.

Reports in France and Spain claim Barca are preparing to offer Rabiot a five-year deal when the transfer window opens on January 1.

But Catalan club said in a statement today that they had made contact with PSG's management "last August and then a week ago" to express their interest in Rabiot, but had not spoken to the player.

"In response to the news that has appeared in France, Barcelona state that there has been no breach of regulations regarding the signing of PSG players," the statement read.

"The only contact was made last August and then a week ago. In both case, the contact was made with the sporting managers of PSG in order to express Barcelona's interest in the player Adrien Rabiot.

"Barcelona always want to work with the highest level of transparency with PSG and any other club. Barcelona deny the existence of any type of agreement with PSG players Adrien Rabiot."</s>Barcelona are entering a period dreaded by most fans. Many of the ‘core’ players have left the club while many are entering their twilight years. As a result, the Blaugrana are looking to bring in fresh blood who will form the ‘new’ Barcelona. However, their approach for one of the key targets has landed the player in trouble, who has been banned from entering his own dressing room.

Adrien Rabiot is in the final few months of his PSG contract. The French midfielder turned down an extension earlier, signalling an end to his PSG career. As a result, the Paris-based club is likely to sell him off in January, rather than lose the youngster on a free transfer next summer.

Due to his decision not to renew his contract, PSG sporting director Antero Henrique has given strict instructions to coach Thomas Tuchel, that Rabiot should not play another minute for the Parisian club. Subsequently, Tuchel has decided to ban the 23-year-old from entering the team dressing room entirely on match-days.

The reports, which are put forward by Calciomercato via Paris United, also state that the Frenchman is being completely ignored by the club hierarchy bar the assistant manager, Zoumana Camara.

Barcelona have since offered Rabiot an escape from his French nightmare in January by demanding that he reduces his signing-on fee from 10 Million to 5 Million.</s>Barcelona have denied the existence of any agreement with Paris St Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot and insist they have not broken the rules over his potential recruitment.

LaLiga’s table-toppers, along with several Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Arsenal, have been linked with the 23-year-old six-time France international, whose contract with PSG ends in June.

Reports in France and Spain claim Barca are preparing to offer Rabiot a five-year deal when the transfer window opens on January 1.

The Catalan club said in a statement on Sunday they had made contact with PSG’s management “last August and then a week ago” to express their interest in Rabiot, but had not spoken to the player.

“In response to the news that has appeared in France, Barcelona state that there has been no breach of regulations regarding the signing of PSG players,” the statement read.

“The only contact was made last August and then a week ago. In both case, the contact was made with the sporting managers of PSG in order to express Barcelona’s interest in the player Adrien Rabiot.

“Barcelona always want to work with the highest level of transparency with PSG and any other club.

“Barcelona deny the existence of any type of agreement with PSG players Adrien Rabiot.”

Rabiot graduated from the PSG academy and, having made his senior debut for the Parisians in 2012, has appeared over 200 times for the Ligue 1 club, winning the French title four times.</s>Barcelona superstar Gerard Pique could be set to announce his retirement in 2020 if reports are to be believed.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Pique plans on retiring in a year’s time so that he can focus on running for the role of Barcelona President, which will be vacant in 2021.

The defender has been an integral part of the Barcelona side ever since signing from Manchester United way back in 2008.

In his time in Spain, Pique has won three Champions Leagues as well as a whopping seven LaLiga crowns, making him one of the most decorated Barcelona players of all time.

Of late, the 31-year-old has involved himself – via his investment group Kosmos – in various ventures. He was recently linked with the takeover of a Spanish club FC Andorra, with talks still ongoing.

Pique has a vested interest in the Barcelona President’s job, having expressed his desire to take up the role a couple of years ago when he said, “Yes, when I say things I mean them. I want to be president of Barca. It’s a step I’d like to take when I retire.

“As a president I could do really well for this club, because it’s what I am passionate about. My playing career will [one day] come to an end and the step I’d like to take is to become Barcelona president.”</s>BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona has acquired Colombia center back Jeison Murillo on loan from Valencia to help patch up its injury-hit defense.

Murillo, 26, will join the club after passing a medical exam, Barcelona says. The loan, for the remainder of the season, gives Barcelona the option to buy Murillo for 25 million euros (28.6 million dollars).

He has only played three matches for Valencia this season and played for Inter Milan for two years before leaving at the start of last season.

Barcelona is without injured defenders Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen, with Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet its only available center backs.

Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.</s>BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain’s prime minister and the leader of Catalonia emerged from a meeting Thursday with an agreement to find a solution to the political crisis that has festered since the region’s failed secession attempt last year.

Following the talks in the Catalan city of Barcelona between Spanish leader Pedro Sanchez and Catalan head Quim Torra, their governments issued a joint statement calling for dialogue to settle the fight.

The statement said the central and regional governments recognize there is a conflict over Catalonia’s future. But, it added, “Despite the notable differences about its origin, nature and ways of resolution, they share, above all, the commitment for effective dialogue that is linked to a political proposal that has the backing of large part of Catalan society.”

The two sides also agreed to have members of their governments meet again in January.

The Spanish and Catalan governments have been at odds since the Catalan Parliament issued an ineffective declaration of independence last year, which was ruled unconstitutional by the courts and led to a temporary takeover of regional affairs by Spanish authorities. Several leaders of the secession movement were jailed.

Sanchez and Torra sat down for the first time last July in an initial step by the Spanish prime minister to mend relations with Catalonia’s separatist leaders since they both took power earlier this year.

Their second meeting took place in Barcelona’s Palau de Pedralbes, a former palace surrounded by walled gardens that once housed Spanish royalty. Torra shook hands with Sanchez on his arrival and they spoke briefly as they walked into the building, which belongs to the regional government.

“We all must open a new chapter, a chapter in which confrontation becomes concord,” Sanchez told a Catalan business forum at a nearby hotel shortly after seeing Torra.

“Against the polarization of society, cohesion. Against posturing and noise, dialogue, dialogue and dialogue,” Sanchez said.

Torra also attended the forum and said that “both governments share the idea of finding a democratic solution.”

Despite the willingness shown by both sides to talk, neither hid how far apart they still are on agreeing to the way to resolve Spain’s worst political crisis in nearly three decades.

Catalan government spokeswoman Elsa Artadi told reporters after the meeting that Torra’s position remains that a legal binding referendum on independence is the answer.

Spain’s minister of territorial affairs, Meritxell Batet, said the federal government has not budged from its position that such a referendum by a Spanish region is unconstitutional.

“We are convinced that we can continue forward toward a political solution within the constitution,” Batet said. “The crisis we are going through won’t be solved in a short period of time.”

The sit-down with Torra comes with Sanchez struggling to keep his minority government afloat. His Socialist Party was dealt a huge setback in regional elections earlier this month in southern Spain when opposition parties campaigned against his maneuvers in Catalonia.

Right-wing parties have launched fierce attacks criticizing Sanchez of wanting to appease Catalonia’s separatists in exchange for their support for his national budget.

“We have a president who in order to stay in power is capable of siding with those who want to break Spain apart,” Pablo Casado, leader of the conservative Popular Party, said after Sanchez saw Torra.

Torra is also having trouble within the separatist camp, which is divided into moderates and diehards who want independence now. Polls and election results show that roughly half of Catalonia’s 7.4 million residents want to remain a part of Spain.

Due to forecasts of protests by radical separatists, security in the prosperous northeastern region, normally in the hands of the Catalan police, was reinforced with hundreds of anti-riot national police officers.

But only around 100 protestors gathered outside the hotel hosting the forum where Sanchez and Torra spoke to demand independence for the region. Worker and student groups also called strikes for Friday, when Sanchez has decided to hold his weekly meeting of the Spanish Cabinet in central Barcelona.

Hours before Thursday’s meeting, four imprisoned Catalan separatist leaders said they were abandoning the prison hunger strike they started at the beginning of the month to call attention to what they consider unfair treatment by Spain’s judiciary. Activist-turned-politician Jordi Sanchez and former Catalan Cabinet member Jordi Turull went without food for 19 days, while ex-regional ministers Josep Rull and Joaquim Forn abstained for 17.

Meanwhile, former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont announced in Geneva that he and five allies were filing a complaint with the U.N.’s Human Rights Committee contending Spain violated their democratic rights as elected officials.

Puigdemont, Torra’s predecessor, has fought off extradition to Spain since fleeing to Belgium shortly after the secession attempt in 2017. He faces immediate arrest if he returns to Spain.

Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson reported this story in Barcelona and AP writer Aritz Parra reported from Madrid. AP writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.</s>Barcelona say only contact over Adrien Rabiot has been with PSG

Barcelona have issued a statement denying they have breached any rules regarding the possible signing of PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

Rabiot's current contract expires in the summer - meaning he can negotiate a move to a non-French club for next season once the January transfer window has opened.

The 23-year-old has been linked with Premier League sides Arsenal and Liverpool, but reports have emerged suggesting he has an agreement in place with Spanish champions Barcelona.

However, Barca released a statement on Sunday which said: "FC Barcelona wish to address stories published in France regarding the signing of players from Paris Saint-Germain, and make clear that they have not breached any rule in this regard.

"The only contact made was during the month of August and one week ago.

"In both cases, this contact was made with PSG's sporting management, to show FC Barcelona's interest in player Adrien Rabiot.

"FC Barcelona have always wanted to work with the utmost transparency in their dealings with PSG and with any other club.

"FC Barcelona refute the existence of any type of agreement with PSG player Adrien Rabiot."
A French man is detained in Barcelona, Spain, upon entering the Sagrada Familia with a suitcase containing ammunition. The Catalan police do not consider it an act of terrorism.