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| From gas blast to carnage in Las Ramblas: the attacks that shook Spain | From gas blast to carnage in Las Ramblas: the attacks that shook Spain |
| (5 months later) | |
| A night of terrorism in Catalonia that left 19 people dead - including five terrorists - and more than 130 injured began with a botched attempt to construct a gas bomb | |
| Giles Tremlett in Cambrils | |
| Stephen Burgen in Barcelona and | |
| Ian Cobain in London | |
| Sat 19 Aug 2017 05.00 BST | |
| Last modified on Fri 1 Dec 2017 14.59 GMT | |
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| When an explosion ripped through a house in the small southern Catalonian town of Alcanar in the early hours of Thursday, police and firefighters initially assumed there was an innocent explanation. | When an explosion ripped through a house in the small southern Catalonian town of Alcanar in the early hours of Thursday, police and firefighters initially assumed there was an innocent explanation. |
| All that remained of the building when they arrived was a heap of smouldering rubble. Several neighbouring buildings had also been badly damaged by the blast, which could be heard from miles away. | All that remained of the building when they arrived was a heap of smouldering rubble. Several neighbouring buildings had also been badly damaged by the blast, which could be heard from miles away. |
| Picking carefully through the debris they found the body of a woman, a severely injured man and the remains of around 20 butane and propane gas bottles. | Picking carefully through the debris they found the body of a woman, a severely injured man and the remains of around 20 butane and propane gas bottles. |
| The house, which had been repossessed by a bank years ago, was being squatted by a group of men who neighbours assumed were Moroccan and who came and went on powerful Kawasaki motorbikes. | The house, which had been repossessed by a bank years ago, was being squatted by a group of men who neighbours assumed were Moroccan and who came and went on powerful Kawasaki motorbikes. |
| Police thought that this meant is was a drugs factory of some kind. The cause of the explosion seemed clear enough: it was the result of an accidental gas leak. | Police thought that this meant is was a drugs factory of some kind. The cause of the explosion seemed clear enough: it was the result of an accidental gas leak. |
| Twenty-four hours later, with 19 more people dead – five of them terrorists – more than 130 people injured, four suspects in custody and scenes of carnage at two popular tourist attractions, Spanish authorities realised the blast at Alcanar was the first sign that a terrorist cell was active in the country. | Twenty-four hours later, with 19 more people dead – five of them terrorists – more than 130 people injured, four suspects in custody and scenes of carnage at two popular tourist attractions, Spanish authorities realised the blast at Alcanar was the first sign that a terrorist cell was active in the country. |
| By late Friday, investigators had concluded that the cell’s initial plan was to pack a large truck with a gas bottle bomb and use it to cause a huge explosion in a busy area. | By late Friday, investigators had concluded that the cell’s initial plan was to pack a large truck with a gas bottle bomb and use it to cause a huge explosion in a busy area. |
| Unable to obtain a truck, plan B appeared to be to build two smaller devices and place them in the back of two hired vans. | Unable to obtain a truck, plan B appeared to be to build two smaller devices and place them in the back of two hired vans. |
| But when the bomb-making venture ended with the blast at Alcanar – presumably when the bombmaker accidentally detonated the device – members of the cell fell back on plan C: driving into crowds of people, first in Barcelona and then in the town of Cambrils. | But when the bomb-making venture ended with the blast at Alcanar – presumably when the bombmaker accidentally detonated the device – members of the cell fell back on plan C: driving into crowds of people, first in Barcelona and then in the town of Cambrils. |
| Like other European countries, Spain has been the target of a number of terrorist plots inspired by Islamic State. Until this week, all have been foiled. Seven weeks ago, Spanish police said they had identified and detained an Isis cell on the resort island of Mallorca. | Like other European countries, Spain has been the target of a number of terrorist plots inspired by Islamic State. Until this week, all have been foiled. Seven weeks ago, Spanish police said they had identified and detained an Isis cell on the resort island of Mallorca. |
| Few people are thought to have travelled from Spain to join Isis in Syria or Iraq – probably fewer than 100, according to some estimates – and no Spanish citizens are thought to hold leadership positions in the organisation. | Few people are thought to have travelled from Spain to join Isis in Syria or Iraq – probably fewer than 100, according to some estimates – and no Spanish citizens are thought to hold leadership positions in the organisation. |
| But despite Spain’s recruitment of a small army of informers, the deployment of an array of technical surveillance measures and the vigilance of the police and the intelligence service, the CNI, pessimists among their ranks always assumed that at some point at least one attack would get through. | But despite Spain’s recruitment of a small army of informers, the deployment of an array of technical surveillance measures and the vigilance of the police and the intelligence service, the CNI, pessimists among their ranks always assumed that at some point at least one attack would get through. |
| That point came on Thursday afternoon, 125 miles (200km) north-east of Alcanar, at Barcelona’s most popular tourist destination. | That point came on Thursday afternoon, 125 miles (200km) north-east of Alcanar, at Barcelona’s most popular tourist destination. |
| Picking its way slowly past El Corte Inglés department store on the Plaça de Catalunya, a white Fiat van approached the top of Las Ramblas, the famous tree-lined boulevard where two traffic lanes run on either side of a wide central pavement. | Picking its way slowly past El Corte Inglés department store on the Plaça de Catalunya, a white Fiat van approached the top of Las Ramblas, the famous tree-lined boulevard where two traffic lanes run on either side of a wide central pavement. |
| As always on a summer’s afternoon, Las Ramblas was packed with street traders selling everything from fridge magnets to caged birds, children marvelling at the many human statues, and people enjoying a coffee or a glass of cava at the roadside cafes. | As always on a summer’s afternoon, Las Ramblas was packed with street traders selling everything from fridge magnets to caged birds, children marvelling at the many human statues, and people enjoying a coffee or a glass of cava at the roadside cafes. |
| And, of course, it was packed with tourists from around the world. A terrorist attack here would hurt everywhere. | And, of course, it was packed with tourists from around the world. A terrorist attack here would hurt everywhere. |
| The Fiat’s engine could be heard revving as it approached and, to the disbelief and then horror of those nearby, it mounted the central pavement and started to accelerate. | The Fiat’s engine could be heard revving as it approached and, to the disbelief and then horror of those nearby, it mounted the central pavement and started to accelerate. |
| Some witnesses described how the van’s driver swerved wildly from side to side, clearly attempting to hit people as they tried to run away. “It was weaving left and right, trying to hit people as fast as possible,” said Tom Markwell, a tourist from New Orleans. | Some witnesses described how the van’s driver swerved wildly from side to side, clearly attempting to hit people as they tried to run away. “It was weaving left and right, trying to hit people as fast as possible,” said Tom Markwell, a tourist from New Orleans. |
| Many of those in the vicinity did not see the van at all, but described hearing a series of thuds, and then seeing hundreds of terrified people, many of them screaming, and running as fast as they could. | Many of those in the vicinity did not see the van at all, but described hearing a series of thuds, and then seeing hundreds of terrified people, many of them screaming, and running as fast as they could. |
| It was like watching a human avalanche, said Aamer Anwar, the rector of the University of Glasgow, who was attending a conference in the city: “The whole street started running.” When he stopped, a woman nearby began screaming because she couldn’t see her children. | It was like watching a human avalanche, said Aamer Anwar, the rector of the University of Glasgow, who was attending a conference in the city: “The whole street started running.” When he stopped, a woman nearby began screaming because she couldn’t see her children. |
| The Fiat eventually came to a halt halfway along Las Ramblas, on top of a famous Joan Miró mosaic. Behind it, 13 people lay dead or dying, and around 130 were injured, many of them critically. Witnesses told police that the driver, a man around 165cm (5ft 5in) tall and wearing a white shirt, climbed out of the van and fled down a side street. | The Fiat eventually came to a halt halfway along Las Ramblas, on top of a famous Joan Miró mosaic. Behind it, 13 people lay dead or dying, and around 130 were injured, many of them critically. Witnesses told police that the driver, a man around 165cm (5ft 5in) tall and wearing a white shirt, climbed out of the van and fled down a side street. |
| Ninety minutes later and 50 miles north, in the town of Vic, police found a second van that had been hired at the same time as the white Fiat from the Telefurgo rental company in nearby Sabadell. It appeared that it may have been used by the terrorist as a getaway vehicle. | Ninety minutes later and 50 miles north, in the town of Vic, police found a second van that had been hired at the same time as the white Fiat from the Telefurgo rental company in nearby Sabadell. It appeared that it may have been used by the terrorist as a getaway vehicle. |
| Significantly, the staff who rented out the van said the customer had wanted to hire a large truck but, as with the London Bridge attackers in June, he did not have the required licence. He then rented the two vans. | Significantly, the staff who rented out the van said the customer had wanted to hire a large truck but, as with the London Bridge attackers in June, he did not have the required licence. He then rented the two vans. |
| A few minutes later, back in central Barcelona, two police officers were knocked over and injured by a Ford Focus car they were attempting to flag down on Avenida Diagonal. The car was chased by a police vehicle and officers opened fire on it in the nearby town of Sant Just Desvern. Police initially thought they had killed the man they found inside, but it became clear he had died of a knife wound, leading them to speculate that a second person may have escaped from the vehicle. | A few minutes later, back in central Barcelona, two police officers were knocked over and injured by a Ford Focus car they were attempting to flag down on Avenida Diagonal. The car was chased by a police vehicle and officers opened fire on it in the nearby town of Sant Just Desvern. Police initially thought they had killed the man they found inside, but it became clear he had died of a knife wound, leading them to speculate that a second person may have escaped from the vehicle. |
| It was uncertain whether the dead man had any connection with the terrorist attack. “This man is dead, he was a Spaniard, his connection to terrorists has not been confirmed,” said Josep Lluís Trapero, a senior Catalan police official. | It was uncertain whether the dead man had any connection with the terrorist attack. “This man is dead, he was a Spaniard, his connection to terrorists has not been confirmed,” said Josep Lluís Trapero, a senior Catalan police official. |
| Police search for a killer on the run | Police search for a killer on the run |
| The incident highlighted the febrile atmosphere that had descended on Barcelona and the surrounding Catalan towns, as police and the public realised a mass killer was at large. | The incident highlighted the febrile atmosphere that had descended on Barcelona and the surrounding Catalan towns, as police and the public realised a mass killer was at large. |
| Initially, suspicion focused on Driss Oukabir, a 28-year-old Moroccan-born man believed to have hired the white Fiat van. | Initially, suspicion focused on Driss Oukabir, a 28-year-old Moroccan-born man believed to have hired the white Fiat van. |
| By now, however, police were revisiting the “gas blast” at Alcanar, running more checks on the occupants of the house and searching again through the debris. They began to suspect that the explosion and the attack on Las Ramblas could be linked. | By now, however, police were revisiting the “gas blast” at Alcanar, running more checks on the occupants of the house and searching again through the debris. They began to suspect that the explosion and the attack on Las Ramblas could be linked. |
| Unexpectedly, Oukabir turned himself in at a police station in Ripoll, northern Catalonia. He told police his identity documents had been stolen, and that he was not the man who had hired the van. He was immediately arrested for questioning, as was another man in the town, but officers confirmed that Oukabir had not been at the wheel when the van was used in Las Ramblas. | Unexpectedly, Oukabir turned himself in at a police station in Ripoll, northern Catalonia. He told police his identity documents had been stolen, and that he was not the man who had hired the van. He was immediately arrested for questioning, as was another man in the town, but officers confirmed that Oukabir had not been at the wheel when the van was used in Las Ramblas. |
| Instead, attention turned to Oukabir’s 17-year-old brother, Moussa. “I’m very surprised,” a friend of the teenager told La Vanguardia newspaper. He was a bit of a joker, she said, “a nice, normal boy”. He had lived in Spain since he was about three years old and spoke perfect Catalan. | Instead, attention turned to Oukabir’s 17-year-old brother, Moussa. “I’m very surprised,” a friend of the teenager told La Vanguardia newspaper. He was a bit of a joker, she said, “a nice, normal boy”. He had lived in Spain since he was about three years old and spoke perfect Catalan. |
| Moussa Oukabir’s digital footprint tells a different story. Asked on the social media site Kiwi what he would do if he ruled the world, Moussa replied: “Kill the unbelievers and leave only Muslims who follow their religion.” | Moussa Oukabir’s digital footprint tells a different story. Asked on the social media site Kiwi what he would do if he ruled the world, Moussa replied: “Kill the unbelievers and leave only Muslims who follow their religion.” |
| In Alcanar, meanwhile, police had concluded that a number of improvised gas bottle bombs, similar to those used in a 2007 attack on Glasgow airport, had been under construction inside the house and had detonated prematurely. | In Alcanar, meanwhile, police had concluded that a number of improvised gas bottle bombs, similar to those used in a 2007 attack on Glasgow airport, had been under construction inside the house and had detonated prematurely. |
| Police arrested a man for questioning over the explosion. He is said to be a Spanish citizen who was born in Melilla, one of Spain’s two enclaves on the Moroccan coast. | Police arrested a man for questioning over the explosion. He is said to be a Spanish citizen who was born in Melilla, one of Spain’s two enclaves on the Moroccan coast. |
| The investigation had become a hunt not for one man, but for the members of a terrorist cell. Police extended the search for Oukabir, and also began hunting for two of his friends – Mohamed Hychami, 24, and Younes Abouyaaqoub, 22 – as well as an 18-year-old youth, Said Aallaa. | The investigation had become a hunt not for one man, but for the members of a terrorist cell. Police extended the search for Oukabir, and also began hunting for two of his friends – Mohamed Hychami, 24, and Younes Abouyaaqoub, 22 – as well as an 18-year-old youth, Said Aallaa. |
| Abouyaaqoub, a Moroccan national, is now the focus of the Spanish police search for the driver of the van used in the Barcelona attack. | Abouyaaqoub, a Moroccan national, is now the focus of the Spanish police search for the driver of the van used in the Barcelona attack. |
| Another attack in the coastal town of Cambrils | Another attack in the coastal town of Cambrils |
| Then, in the early hours of Friday, five members of that cell launched another vehicle attack, this time on the streets of Cambrils, a coastal town midway between Alcanar and Barcelona. | Then, in the early hours of Friday, five members of that cell launched another vehicle attack, this time on the streets of Cambrils, a coastal town midway between Alcanar and Barcelona. |
| Just as the town was closing down for the night, a blue Audi A3 car ploughed into a group of tourists and residents on the Paseo Maritimo. One, an elderly woman, died later of her injuries. The car then rammed into a police checkpoint, injuring an officer. | Just as the town was closing down for the night, a blue Audi A3 car ploughed into a group of tourists and residents on the Paseo Maritimo. One, an elderly woman, died later of her injuries. The car then rammed into a police checkpoint, injuring an officer. |
| The Audi overturned, and the attackers clambered out, apparently wearing suicide bomb vests and armed with an axe and machetes. Two of the attackers were shot dead at the scene, according to Catalan police, but three others ran away. | The Audi overturned, and the attackers clambered out, apparently wearing suicide bomb vests and armed with an axe and machetes. Two of the attackers were shot dead at the scene, according to Catalan police, but three others ran away. |
| “One of them ran right along the pavement below us, shouting loudly about Allah,” said José Ramón Arana, whose second-floor apartment looks out over the promenade. “He had something in his hand, but I couldn’t see what it was. I thought it might be a detonator for the bomb vest.” | “One of them ran right along the pavement below us, shouting loudly about Allah,” said José Ramón Arana, whose second-floor apartment looks out over the promenade. “He had something in his hand, but I couldn’t see what it was. I thought it might be a detonator for the bomb vest.” |
| Within seconds this man had also been shot dead. “Terrorist down!” police shouted. | Within seconds this man had also been shot dead. “Terrorist down!” police shouted. |
| A fourth member of the gang ran along the other side of the palm-lined promenade and jumped off a low wall on to the beach. Police opened fire and he too was killed. | A fourth member of the gang ran along the other side of the palm-lined promenade and jumped off a low wall on to the beach. Police opened fire and he too was killed. |
| One of them ran right along the pavement below us, shouting loudly about Allah | One of them ran right along the pavement below us, shouting loudly about Allah |
| As people darted into the small hotels along the seafront or sheltered in the few restaurants and bars that were still open, police hunted for the fifth member of the gang, who was believed to be injured. | As people darted into the small hotels along the seafront or sheltered in the few restaurants and bars that were still open, police hunted for the fifth member of the gang, who was believed to be injured. |
| “He had a very large knife and had attacked some people,” the police chief José Muñoz said. One of the injured was a woman who was reportedly stabbed in the face, and remains in a serious condition. | “He had a very large knife and had attacked some people,” the police chief José Muñoz said. One of the injured was a woman who was reportedly stabbed in the face, and remains in a serious condition. |
| The final attacker to die was located and shot a short distance away. The attacker was reported to have been captured alive, but later died of his injuries. | The final attacker to die was located and shot a short distance away. The attacker was reported to have been captured alive, but later died of his injuries. |
| Those injured by the attackers had remained unattended for almost half an hour while police hunted for the last man. “I could see one elderly man bleeding from his neck. His whole shirt was drenched in blood. And a woman just knelt and held on to one of the wastepaper baskets all that time,” Arana said. One of the injured was reported to be in a critical condition on Friday afternoon. | Those injured by the attackers had remained unattended for almost half an hour while police hunted for the last man. “I could see one elderly man bleeding from his neck. His whole shirt was drenched in blood. And a woman just knelt and held on to one of the wastepaper baskets all that time,” Arana said. One of the injured was reported to be in a critical condition on Friday afternoon. |
| Police bomb experts later carried out a controlled explosion on the beach. An axe and knives were found in the Audi car. | Police bomb experts later carried out a controlled explosion on the beach. An axe and knives were found in the Audi car. |
| Four of the attackers had been shot dead by one officer, according to Catalan police. The death of one of the suspects was filmed by tourists using their mobile phones: he can be seen falling to the ground, then standing up and approaching the police, who shoot him again. | Four of the attackers had been shot dead by one officer, according to Catalan police. The death of one of the suspects was filmed by tourists using their mobile phones: he can be seen falling to the ground, then standing up and approaching the police, who shoot him again. |
| Fitzroy Davies, a tourist from Wolverhampton, said: “He came running up, he had silver stuff on him, he had a thing in his hand, and then somebody shouted ‘police’ and then within 30 seconds the police came. | Fitzroy Davies, a tourist from Wolverhampton, said: “He came running up, he had silver stuff on him, he had a thing in his hand, and then somebody shouted ‘police’ and then within 30 seconds the police came. |
| “Next thing you know, they’ve drawn their guns and they were shouting at the guy and then shots were fired. He then fell down and then within two seconds he stood back up. | “Next thing you know, they’ve drawn their guns and they were shouting at the guy and then shots were fired. He then fell down and then within two seconds he stood back up. |
| “The guy just stood up, got back up, walked over to the fence and started laughing at the police. And as he started laughing at the police, he was walking to them and the police started to step backwards and then they shot him again.” | “The guy just stood up, got back up, walked over to the fence and started laughing at the police. And as he started laughing at the police, he was walking to them and the police started to step backwards and then they shot him again.” |
| Davies said the attacker had been behaving bizarrely. “He was just going up and down the street, like ranting, raving and he was – I don’t know if he was all the ticket.” | Davies said the attacker had been behaving bizarrely. “He was just going up and down the street, like ranting, raving and he was – I don’t know if he was all the ticket.” |
| Police quickly found that the “suicide vests” were fake, made from drinks bottles, cardboard and silver foil, similar to vests worn by the London Bridge attackers. | Police quickly found that the “suicide vests” were fake, made from drinks bottles, cardboard and silver foil, similar to vests worn by the London Bridge attackers. |
| While police in London have said that this suggested the London attackers intended to take hostages, one man with Islamist terrorism convictions in the UK had a different theory. “They would have worn them because they wanted to be shot dead, rather than be injured and arrested,” he told the Guardian. | While police in London have said that this suggested the London attackers intended to take hostages, one man with Islamist terrorism convictions in the UK had a different theory. “They would have worn them because they wanted to be shot dead, rather than be injured and arrested,” he told the Guardian. |
| Despite the high number of shots fired, many of the tourists in the town’s hotels slept through the entire incident. “Our daughter woke up when a helicopter came over later,” explained Howard Yeaton, a garage owner from Harrogate, who is on holiday with his wife, Pauline, and daughters Emma and Claire. | Despite the high number of shots fired, many of the tourists in the town’s hotels slept through the entire incident. “Our daughter woke up when a helicopter came over later,” explained Howard Yeaton, a garage owner from Harrogate, who is on holiday with his wife, Pauline, and daughters Emma and Claire. |
| By daybreak only television trucks, and a smattering of armed police, remained as a sign of what had happened. | By daybreak only television trucks, and a smattering of armed police, remained as a sign of what had happened. |
| Police later confirmed that Moussa Oukabir, Mohamed Hychami, and Said Aallaa were among the five shot dead, along with El Houssaine Abouyaaqoub, 19, and Omar Hychami, 21. They were still searching for Younes Abouyaaqoub and another two unnamed suspects. | Police later confirmed that Moussa Oukabir, Mohamed Hychami, and Said Aallaa were among the five shot dead, along with El Houssaine Abouyaaqoub, 19, and Omar Hychami, 21. They were still searching for Younes Abouyaaqoub and another two unnamed suspects. |
| Catalan police said on Friday night that “biological remains” from the site of the gas explosion in Alcanar had been sent to laboratory. Tests revealed that two people had died at the site. | Catalan police said on Friday night that “biological remains” from the site of the gas explosion in Alcanar had been sent to laboratory. Tests revealed that two people had died at the site. |
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