Updated 11:20
An Irish family who were caught up in yesterday’s terror attack in Barcelona are recovering in hospital.
Husband and wife, Norman and Pederlita Putot are Irish citizens who are originally from the Philippines. They were holidaying in the Catalan capital alongside their two Irish-born children, Nathaniel and Pearl.
The Filipino Consul General in Madrid told Newstalk that his officials have visited the family in hospital – adding that there has been an outpouring of support from the sizeable Filipino community in the city.
Dr. Emmanuel Fernandez said his Embassy has been working in close contact with the Irish consulate in Barcelona.
He said the family are originally from the province of Cebu in the central Visayas region of the Philippines.
“It is a very tragic event,” he said. "The local police to their credit have tried their best to contain it, but I understand that the main perpetrator remains at large
“Although we know that terrorism seems to be spreading across all corners as Europe, events like this still come as a terrible shock.”
He said Mr Putot and his son Nathaniel both sustained injuries in the attack however the young boy’s condition is the most serious.
“The husband, the father sustained was hit on his side but he is OK,” he said.
“It is actually the five-year-son that is a little bit serious in terms of the injuries he sustained.”
It is understood the boy sustained a broken femur, however his injuries are not life threatening.
On Newstalk Breakfast, the foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney described said their injuries are “quite serious.”
"The father and unfortunately the five-year-old boy have quite serious leg injuries," he said.
"The injuries are not life threatening - that is my understanding.
"Our consul in Barcelona will be visiting them today in hospital and they are also getting support from the Filipino consul."
The mother and daughter were not injured.
