A DIPLOMAT'S wife is being held
hostage in
Barcelona. The
Mali consulate is surrounded by Catalan police (Mossos d'Esquardra) and elite police forces who are trying to mediate with the kidnapper.
Catalan police have already identified the alleged perpetrator and said it is a man originally from Mali.
Elite officers from the Special Intervention Group (Special Grup d'Intervencio), who work on rescue and anti-terror missions, are on the scene.
They have sealed off an area around the Mali Consulate on Josep Tarradellas in the west of the city.
Officers rushed to the consulate in the Catalan capital after receiving a phone call from the diplomat, José Luis López Fernández, warning that his wife was being held inside at 3pm (2pm GMT) this afternoon.
Police sources have told El Pais the kidnapper demands his 'administrative situation' is resolved.
He is not armed.
Intervention teams from the National Police arrived on the scene at around 18.30 (GMT) to help with negotiations.