Rex Tillerson confirms one American dead in Barcelona terrorist attacks

Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson on Friday confirmed that one American had died in the terrorist attacks in Barcelona yesterday, among the 14 people killed and over 100 injured in multiple attacks that included a car ramming at the crowd on the popular tourist destination of Las Ramblas.

“We have now received word and confirmed the death of one American citizen in the terrorist attacks in Spain amongst those who have been killed,” Mr. Tillerson said and added that they are still confirming the deaths and injuries of others.

“We express our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of this individual and obviously the others who have suffered loss of life, and we offer our thoughts and prayers to their families as they are going to be dealing with a very, very tough, few days ahead of them,” the secretary said.

In a speech to state department summer interns, Mr. Tillerson also focused on the need for greater diversity among department staff and in diplomatic postings, in a veiled response to race tensions in the United States following the fallout from the violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia.

A white nationalist rally over the weekend drew neo-Nazis, KKK and white supremacists to the town, including one man who ran his car into a crowd, killing one woman and injuring 19 others. The suspect is in jail on a second-degree murder charge, among other offenses. Two officers also died in a helicopter crash that was responding to the rally.

“[We] need to increase diversity in the state department,” the secretary said Friday morning.

“Only about 12 percent of senior foreign service officers are non-white,” the secretary said and added that he will direct the “relevant committees” to put procedures in place to encourage minorities in high level positions, such as having at least one candidate be a minority for diplomatic posts.

His remarks Friday morning followed his earlier statements that condemned hatred and violence in relation the events in Charlottesville.

“And I think that’s why it’s appropriate to comment on the recent events in Virginia and our condemnation of that kind of hate and violence,” the secretary said Wednesday during a meeting with the Canadian foreign minister. “There is just simply no place for that in our public discourse. And I want to add our own condemnation to that.”

These statements, in addition to his plans to increase diversity in the State Department show a growing distance between President Trump and his Cabinet officials. Mr. Trump has drawn widespread condemnation for his remarks on Charlottesville, especially his Tuesday’s statements that appeared to defend white supremacists and blame “many sides” for the violence.

Sec. Tillerson confirms death of US citizen in terrorist attacks in #Spain; expresses sympathies & offers thoughts and prayers. #Barcelona pic.twitter.com/Qslz4gKKd2

— Department of State (@StateDept) August 18, 2017