Europe travel guide

Tourist dies in Barcelona bag snatch

Pickpockets and bag snatchers have been a problem for tourists in Barcelona for years. Tragically, a bag snatch has resulted in an elderly Danish visitor dying. Police say the woman died from the blows she suffered in a fall during the robbery which took place on the junction of Avenida Madrid and the Grand Via de Carlos III.

It appears that a moped pulled alongside her during the Danish woman's first day in the Catalan city. She was with her daughter and tried to hang on to her bag and was pulled down to the ground. She died in hospital four days later. The Danish Consulate is now organising the repatriation of the body.

Many tourists are targeted by criminals, particularly on the busy and popular Ramblas. You do have to have your wits about you as a wallet lifted from a pocket can ruin a holiday totally. Unfortunately, in this instance, the robbery has ended in tragedy. Whether it will result in a crackdown on the criminals that prey on visitors remains to be seen.

This article was written for TravelSavvy Europe by Bob Cartwright. If you know of an interesting European travel related news story, please get in contact.