This month ’ s catch up …
Barcelona terrorists researched festival targets
Spanish police have said that the men responsible for terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils on 17 August 2017 had researched festivals in the area as potential targets .
The 2017 attacks left 14 dead and more than 130 injured after cars were deliberately driven into crowds at two separate locations .
But a report released by police says that the men involved had also researched Rototom Sunsplash Festival in Benicassim , the Razzmatazz concert venue in Barcelona and various LGBT clubs in Sitges , Barcelona .
Web searches included ‘ Barcelona concerts calendar ,’ ‘ all festivals 19.08.2017 in the
Valencian community ,’ and ‘ major festivals in Sitges 2017 ’. The searches were conducted during the period from 13-17 August , in the days leading up to the attacks .
Police believe the group were taking inspiration from the 2015 attack on the Bataclan in Paris and the 2016 attack on Pulse nightclub in Florida .
The news comes after a string of high profile shootings at music festivals and venues over the last couple of years . BPM festival was targeted in Mexico in January 2017 , followed by the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017 and the October 2017 shooting at Route 91 Harvest Music festival in Las Vegas .
Merlin appoints HeyHuman for conservation installation
Behavioural communications agency HeyHuman has been appointed by Merlin Entertainments as lead creative for a world-first conservation project .
HeyHuman will deliver interactive , immersive installations for the Sea Life Trust , highlighting their ambitious beluga whale project . It will roll out in Sea Life centres across the UK , Thailand , Australia , US , New Zealand and Germany .
The trust has bought an entire fjord off the southern coast of Iceland for the whales to inhabit – the world ’ s first open-water beluga whale sanctuary .
HeyHuman installations to promote the project will be open to the public in January 2019 , with Sea Life centres in London , Birmingham , Brighton and Weymouth .
Rita Marcal , global senior brand manager ( product & experience ) at Merlin Entertainments , says : “ Our beluga whale project is an amazing story , full of anticipation and excitement around the belugas ’ journey to their new habitat . We want to tell this story through fun , interactive experiences that inspire our guests and showcase our commitment to animal welfare .
HeyHuman understands what makes an experience – what makes people not just take notice , but take action . Combined with the agency ’ s technological nous , HeyHuman is the right agency to develop and spread the Sea Life Trust ’ s incredible work .”
Liz Richardson , managing partner at HeyHuman , adds : “ Sea Life Trust has an excellent track-record in its conservation efforts , and it ’ s our job to ensure the brand ’ s protection efforts are successfully communicated to the public via experiences that everyone can take part in .
As an agency focused on the study of human behaviours and brand relationships , this is the type of work that we love to get involved with . Merlin commands a massive amount of respect across a portfolio of iconic brands , and we ’ ll work closely with the Trust to do this project justice .”
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