It’s well past two in the morning halfway round the world and for the last four hours I have been glued to the screen of my phone following the news. Barely an hour before hearing about the terrorist attack in my city I was chatting with a Japanese I had just met and he mentioned the ISIS attacks in Europe. I told him Barcelona had been spared so far. So far.

I am deeply saddened by this meaningless act of violence but proud to see the solidarity that the people of Barcelona have shown in these hard moments, and I am even prouder to see messages of support coming in from all over the world. I have yet to visit a place where the mention of the name of my city did not elicit a friendly smile. That spirit will not be broken. The world is welcome at Barcelona and Barcelona is welcome in the world.