At least one person has reportedly been stabbed in the head by a suspect armed with a machete near Placa de Sant Jaume in Barcelona, Spain.

A clip on social media website X shows an armed man running through the streets as people scatter in terror.

At one point he turns to face the camera, brandishing the frightening-looking blade.

Unconfirmed reports on social media suggested one man had been "stabbed in the head".

Plaça de Sant Jaume is a historic square in the heart of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, serving as the city's political centre.

It is home to both the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya and the Barcelona City Hall, which face each other across the square.

The plaza has been a key civic space since Roman times, originally the site of the ancient Forum.

Today, it hosts official ceremonies, protests, and cultural events throughout the year.

Knife-related crime in Barcelona has seen a significant rise in recent years.

In 2024, police seized 3,371 knives—a 29% increase from the previous year—reflecting intensified efforts to curb the growing presence of bladed weapons in public spaces.

Authorities have identified 82 hotspots across the city where incidents involving knives are frequent, prompting enhanced patrols and the use of metal detectors during major events like the Merce festival.

Notably, 42% of homicides in Barcelona now involve knives, underscoring the urgency of the city's crackdown on such weapons, El Pais has reported.

We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

For the latest news and breaking news visit: /news

Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.

Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/DailyExpress and @daily_express