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Third Suspect Detained After Attacks in Spain; Toll Rises to 14 Third Suspect Detained After Attacks in Spain; Toll Rises to 14
(about 1 hour later)
BARCELONA, Spain — Largely spared the Islamic State attacks that have plagued Europe in recent years, Spaniards awoke Friday to a sobering new reality after a pair of vehicular assaults in Barcelona and a seaside resort town left 14 dead and scores wounded.BARCELONA, Spain — Largely spared the Islamic State attacks that have plagued Europe in recent years, Spaniards awoke Friday to a sobering new reality after a pair of vehicular assaults in Barcelona and a seaside resort town left 14 dead and scores wounded.
The authorities had been warning of an impending attack for some time, having raised the terrorism threat alert to its second highest level in 2015. Since the beginning of this year, the Spanish police have arrested at least 20 people suspected of links to the Islamic State militant group, the Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Center said. The authorities had been warning of an impending attack for some time, having raised the terrorism threat alert to its second-highest level in 2015. Since the beginning of this year, the Spanish police have arrested at least 20 people suspected of links to the Islamic State militant group, the Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Center said.
Nevertheless, the attacks, the deadliest in Spain in more than a decade, seemed to catch the country by surprise, adding it to the list of European nations — including Belgium, Britain, France and Germany — struck by similar assaults attributed to the Islamic State.Nevertheless, the attacks, the deadliest in Spain in more than a decade, seemed to catch the country by surprise, adding it to the list of European nations — including Belgium, Britain, France and Germany — struck by similar assaults attributed to the Islamic State.
Las Ramblas, the site of the Barcelona attack, was thronged again this morning, almost as if nothing had happened the day before. But the mood was subdued, and people were talking quietly.Las Ramblas, the site of the Barcelona attack, was thronged again this morning, almost as if nothing had happened the day before. But the mood was subdued, and people were talking quietly.
Most of the shops were open, but they did not seem to have many customers. Where the truck had stopped and many people were killed or injured is a mosaic in the pavement by Joan Miró, the city’s most famous modern artist.Most of the shops were open, but they did not seem to have many customers. Where the truck had stopped and many people were killed or injured is a mosaic in the pavement by Joan Miró, the city’s most famous modern artist.
There is a companion piece at the airport, and together they invite visitors to come by land, sea and air. In the center of the mosaic in the city center, a makeshift memorial to the victims included flowers, candles and notes, with one reading, “Barcelona weeps but does not surrender.”There is a companion piece at the airport, and together they invite visitors to come by land, sea and air. In the center of the mosaic in the city center, a makeshift memorial to the victims included flowers, candles and notes, with one reading, “Barcelona weeps but does not surrender.”
Just before a moment of silence for the victims at noon on Friday, church bells rang out and people began to move toward the Plaza de Cataluña, the central square of Barcelona. There was another makeshift shrine there, where two women, one wearing a hijab and one not, were weeping and holding each other. People nearby chanted in Catalan, “The people together will not be beaten,” and, “We are not afraid.”Just before a moment of silence for the victims at noon on Friday, church bells rang out and people began to move toward the Plaza de Cataluña, the central square of Barcelona. There was another makeshift shrine there, where two women, one wearing a hijab and one not, were weeping and holding each other. People nearby chanted in Catalan, “The people together will not be beaten,” and, “We are not afraid.”
The authorities were still searching for the driver of the van, and they were looking for a man identified as Moussa Oukabir, who is either 17 or 18 years old; it was not clear if the police believe he was the driver.The authorities were still searching for the driver of the van, and they were looking for a man identified as Moussa Oukabir, who is either 17 or 18 years old; it was not clear if the police believe he was the driver.
Moussa Oukabir is the younger brother of a man who was arrested on Thursday after claiming that his documents had been stolen. Two years ago, a person using that name e wrote in an online forum that if he were king, he would, “kill all infidels and only spare Muslims who follow the religion.” Moussa Oukabir is the younger brother of a man who was arrested on Thursday after claiming that his documents had been stolen. Two years ago, a person using that name wrote in an online forum that if he were king, he would, “kill all infidels and only spare Muslims who follow the religion.”
The police detained a third person on Friday in connection with the attacks, which killed and wounded people from at least 34 countries, when the driver of the van charged down Las Ramblas, a major Barcelona street crowded with pedestrians at the height of the summer holiday season.The police detained a third person on Friday in connection with the attacks, which killed and wounded people from at least 34 countries, when the driver of the van charged down Las Ramblas, a major Barcelona street crowded with pedestrians at the height of the summer holiday season.
Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan regional president, told Onda Cero radio that there was at least one “terrorist still out there,” The Associated Press reported, but it was not clear whether he was referring to the driver of the van.Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan regional president, told Onda Cero radio that there was at least one “terrorist still out there,” The Associated Press reported, but it was not clear whether he was referring to the driver of the van.
The third suspect, who was detained in Ripoll, about 65 miles north of Barcelona, has not been identified, and it was not clear if the arrest was in connection with the attack in Barcelona, the second assault in the seaside town of Cambrils, or both.The third suspect, who was detained in Ripoll, about 65 miles north of Barcelona, has not been identified, and it was not clear if the arrest was in connection with the attack in Barcelona, the second assault in the seaside town of Cambrils, or both.
As the scope of the attacks began to emerge, perhaps the most troubling aspect was the apparent existence of a terrorist cell that coordinated the assailants’ actions that might, but for an accident while mixing chemicals for explosives, have been far more deadly.As the scope of the attacks began to emerge, perhaps the most troubling aspect was the apparent existence of a terrorist cell that coordinated the assailants’ actions that might, but for an accident while mixing chemicals for explosives, have been far more deadly.
That mishap occurred just before midnight in the town of Alcanar, 120 miles southwest of Barcelona, and was first reported as a gas explosion. But as attacks unfolded in Barcelona Thursday afternoon and the resort town of Cambrils after midnight, the police soon made the connection to Alcanar.That mishap occurred just before midnight in the town of Alcanar, 120 miles southwest of Barcelona, and was first reported as a gas explosion. But as attacks unfolded in Barcelona Thursday afternoon and the resort town of Cambrils after midnight, the police soon made the connection to Alcanar.
The attack in Cambrils, about 70 miles southwest of Barcelona, was halted by the police only after the driver of a compact Audi A3 rammed his vehicle into a group of pedestrians, the Catalan authorities said, according to news accounts. Seven people were injured.The attack in Cambrils, about 70 miles southwest of Barcelona, was halted by the police only after the driver of a compact Audi A3 rammed his vehicle into a group of pedestrians, the Catalan authorities said, according to news accounts. Seven people were injured.
The Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reported that the Audi had run through a security check at the entrance to the town, prompting a police chase. After driving into pedestrians, the five occupants emerged, wielding knives. But the police quickly descended, killing all five before they could commit any further mayhem.The Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reported that the Audi had run through a security check at the entrance to the town, prompting a police chase. After driving into pedestrians, the five occupants emerged, wielding knives. But the police quickly descended, killing all five before they could commit any further mayhem.
The five assailants appeared to be wearing explosive vests, although the Catalan police said on Friday that the explosives were fake. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL, claimed responsibility for the attack in Barcelona, but there has been no such claim as yet for the events in Cambrils.The five assailants appeared to be wearing explosive vests, although the Catalan police said on Friday that the explosives were fake. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL, claimed responsibility for the attack in Barcelona, but there has been no such claim as yet for the events in Cambrils.
At least 80 people were injured in the attack in Barcelona. Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French foreign minister, said in a statement that 26 French were among the wounded, with 11 in serious condition. He also said that he would travel to Barcelona on Friday to “visit the French victims of this cowardly act and show France’s support to the Spanish people and authorities.”At least 80 people were injured in the attack in Barcelona. Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French foreign minister, said in a statement that 26 French were among the wounded, with 11 in serious condition. He also said that he would travel to Barcelona on Friday to “visit the French victims of this cowardly act and show France’s support to the Spanish people and authorities.”
A Spaniard and a Moroccan were taken into custody in connection with the Barcelona attack Thursday night. The Moroccan man, identified as Driss Oukabar, was arrested in Ripoll after he walked into a police station and said that his documents had been stolen. A national police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation, said at least three vans had been rented under Mr. Oukabar’s name.A Spaniard and a Moroccan were taken into custody in connection with the Barcelona attack Thursday night. The Moroccan man, identified as Driss Oukabar, was arrested in Ripoll after he walked into a police station and said that his documents had been stolen. A national police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation, said at least three vans had been rented under Mr. Oukabar’s name.
The connection to Morocco will no doubt be a focus for the authorities: Several of the assailants involved in major terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels were of Moroccan descent or had relatives there.The connection to Morocco will no doubt be a focus for the authorities: Several of the assailants involved in major terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels were of Moroccan descent or had relatives there.
The Spaniard was detained in Alcanar, southwest of Cambrils, and the police were investigating whether he was connected to the explosion Wednesday night, which killed one person and injured several others.The Spaniard was detained in Alcanar, southwest of Cambrils, and the police were investigating whether he was connected to the explosion Wednesday night, which killed one person and injured several others.
The attack was the most recent in a series of assaults in Europe claimed by Islamic extremists, in which assailants used vehicles to kill people in countries fighting the Islamic State.The attack was the most recent in a series of assaults in Europe claimed by Islamic extremists, in which assailants used vehicles to kill people in countries fighting the Islamic State.
The police are working on the hypothesis that the five assailants killed in Cambrils could be connected to the events in Barcelona, Agence France-Presse reported, and The Associated Press reported that the Catalan interior minister, Joaquim Forn, said the events were linked.The police are working on the hypothesis that the five assailants killed in Cambrils could be connected to the events in Barcelona, Agence France-Presse reported, and The Associated Press reported that the Catalan interior minister, Joaquim Forn, said the events were linked.
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany expressed her condolences to the Spanish government and “close solidarity” with the people of Spain “in these difficult hours,” her spokesman said.Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany expressed her condolences to the Spanish government and “close solidarity” with the people of Spain “in these difficult hours,” her spokesman said.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain declared three days of mourning, and a moment of silence was held across the country at noon on Friday.Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain declared three days of mourning, and a moment of silence was held across the country at noon on Friday.
Las Ramblas was still closed to traffic early Friday, and trains and buses were not stopping in the area. The police said that access to the area around Las Ramblas and Plaza de Cataluña would be restricted to pedestrians and that security checks would be conducted, and they warned people not to wear large backpacks or carry large bags.Las Ramblas was still closed to traffic early Friday, and trains and buses were not stopping in the area. The police said that access to the area around Las Ramblas and Plaza de Cataluña would be restricted to pedestrians and that security checks would be conducted, and they warned people not to wear large backpacks or carry large bags.
The Catalan authorities have asked the public to come forward with any information about the attack.The Catalan authorities have asked the public to come forward with any information about the attack.