The statement added: "The government believes strongly that unity among democrats can overcome many challenges, including terrorist madness."

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Brey of Spain suggested on social media that the Silver Cross of the Order of Civil Merit should be awarded posthumously to Echeverria, who came from Las Rozas, near Madrid.

The Las Rozas City Council, which called for two days of mourning, also indicated it will bestow a medal of honor posthumously on Echeverria and open a new park with a skateboard arena in his name.

Echeverria moved to London a year ago to work in money laundering prevention for HSBC Bank.

Spanish media reported that Echeverria was the nephew of Bishop Antonio Hornedo Correa, the late bishop of Chachapoyas, Peru, and was described by friends as being devoutly religious himself.

His brother, Joaquin, told El Mundo, a Spanish newspaper, that Echeverria "was a religious man" who never missed Mass on Sunday.

He had also belonged to a group of young Catholics who met weekly in Madrid, the newspaper reported.

Friends described Echeverria as courageous with a strong sense of justice and a desire to serve the weakest.

One of his friends, Rafael Duarte, who worked with him at Banco Popular Espanol, told El Mundo that Echeverria was "humble, upright and very ethical."

Another friend recalled how Echeverria once risked his own life to rescue a friend struggling against sea currents off San Vicente de la Barquera, Spain.