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Spain terror suspect tells court cell was planning much bigger attack Spain terror suspect tells court cell was planning much bigger attack
(35 minutes later)
One of the suspected members of the terrorist cell that brought carnage to north-eastern Spain, killing 15 people and injuring more than 130, has told a judge that the cell had been planning attacks on a much larger scale.One of the suspected members of the terrorist cell that brought carnage to north-eastern Spain, killing 15 people and injuring more than 130, has told a judge that the cell had been planning attacks on a much larger scale.
Mohamed Houli Chemlal made the admission after being brought before a judge in Madrid, Spanish media reported, quoting court officials.Mohamed Houli Chemlal made the admission after being brought before a judge in Madrid, Spanish media reported, quoting court officials.
Chemlal, 21, is said to have confirmed that the group had been planning large-scale bomb attacks before an explosion ripped through a house where a number had been staying, killing two of the plotters. Houli, 21, is said to have confirmed that the group had been planning large-scale bomb attacks before an explosion ripped through a house where a number had been staying, killing two of the plotters.
He arrived at the Audiencia Nacional in hospital-issue pyjamas, his right arm bandaged and his face bearing some of the injuries he is said to have sustained in the explosion last week.He arrived at the Audiencia Nacional in hospital-issue pyjamas, his right arm bandaged and his face bearing some of the injuries he is said to have sustained in the explosion last week.
He was the first of four suspects to be questioned by Judge Fernando Andreu, who will decide whether they should be remanded in custody while police prepare charges.He was the first of four suspects to be questioned by Judge Fernando Andreu, who will decide whether they should be remanded in custody while police prepare charges.
A Spanish national from Melilla, one of the country’s north African enclaves, Chemlal was arrested in hospital after police realised that the house in Alcanar in southern Catalonia had been turned into a bomb factory. A Spanish national from Melilla, one of the country’s north African enclaves, Houli was arrested in hospital after police realised that the house in Alcanar in southern Catalonia had been turned into a bomb factory.
Prosecutors recommended that he be refused bail after he had been questioned for an hour, court officials said.Prosecutors recommended that he be refused bail after he had been questioned for an hour, court officials said.
The other three men who were appearing in court were arrested in Ripoll, 145 miles north of Alcanar, which was home to the six members of the terrorist cell who were shot by police.The other three men who were appearing in court were arrested in Ripoll, 145 miles north of Alcanar, which was home to the six members of the terrorist cell who were shot by police.
Two have been named by Spanish media as Mohammed Aallaa, 27, whose blue Audi car was driven by five members of the group into a number of pedestrians in Cambrils, a coastal town south of Barcelona, and Sahal el Karib, a Moroccan-born businessman in his 30s.Two have been named by Spanish media as Mohammed Aallaa, 27, whose blue Audi car was driven by five members of the group into a number of pedestrians in Cambrils, a coastal town south of Barcelona, and Sahal el Karib, a Moroccan-born businessman in his 30s.
The fourth man appearing in court has been named by police as Driss Oukabir, 27, whose brother Moussa, 17, was one of five men shot dead after the attack in Cambrils.The fourth man appearing in court has been named by police as Driss Oukabir, 27, whose brother Moussa, 17, was one of five men shot dead after the attack in Cambrils.
The four were represented by court-appointed lawyers.The four were represented by court-appointed lawyers.
As the hearing progressed, police were attempting to reconstruct the final 96 hours in the life of the member of the cell who killed 13 people and injured more than 130 others when he drove a hired Fiat van along the crowded Las Ramblas last Thursday.As the hearing progressed, police were attempting to reconstruct the final 96 hours in the life of the member of the cell who killed 13 people and injured more than 130 others when he drove a hired Fiat van along the crowded Las Ramblas last Thursday.
CCTV images show Younes Abouyaaqoub clambering out of the white van after it crashed into a newspaper kiosk and walking slowly away through La Boqueria, the famous covered food market beside Las Ramblas.CCTV images show Younes Abouyaaqoub clambering out of the white van after it crashed into a newspaper kiosk and walking slowly away through La Boqueria, the famous covered food market beside Las Ramblas.
He is now known to have escaped from the city in a car that he took from another victim, vineyard worker Pau Peréz. Abouyaaqoub approached Peréz in the Universitaria district in the north of the city, killed him with a single knife blow to his chest, bundled his body into the back of the Ford Focus car and drove away.He is now known to have escaped from the city in a car that he took from another victim, vineyard worker Pau Peréz. Abouyaaqoub approached Peréz in the Universitaria district in the north of the city, killed him with a single knife blow to his chest, bundled his body into the back of the Ford Focus car and drove away.
Nothing more was seen of Abouyaaqoub until he was cornered on a road in the Subirats district, 30 miles west of Barcelona, on Monday afternoon. When police approached him he is said to have shouted “God is great” in Arabic, and opened his shirt to show what appeared to be a suicide vest.Nothing more was seen of Abouyaaqoub until he was cornered on a road in the Subirats district, 30 miles west of Barcelona, on Monday afternoon. When police approached him he is said to have shouted “God is great” in Arabic, and opened his shirt to show what appeared to be a suicide vest.
The officers immediately shot and killed him. He was the sixth member of the cell to be shot dead.The officers immediately shot and killed him. He was the sixth member of the cell to be shot dead.
Police kept their distance and used a robot to examine the device Abouyaaqoub was wearing. Like the five men who were shot dead in Cambrils early on Friday, it was fake.Police kept their distance and used a robot to examine the device Abouyaaqoub was wearing. Like the five men who were shot dead in Cambrils early on Friday, it was fake.
Abouyaaqoub appeared not to have washed between Thursday and Monday. Police believe he walked to Subirats by night, and hid by day. He was carrying a knife wrapped in plastic when he died, but had no bag, no phone and no money. He had changed his clothes, however: police do not know where he did this.Abouyaaqoub appeared not to have washed between Thursday and Monday. Police believe he walked to Subirats by night, and hid by day. He was carrying a knife wrapped in plastic when he died, but had no bag, no phone and no money. He had changed his clothes, however: police do not know where he did this.
In Morocco, a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being connected to the cell. He previously lived in Ripoll.In Morocco, a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being connected to the cell. He previously lived in Ripoll.
Investigators are now convinced that the cell had been radicalised and was organised by Abdelbaki Es Satty, an imam in Ripoll.Investigators are now convinced that the cell had been radicalised and was organised by Abdelbaki Es Satty, an imam in Ripoll.
Es Satty, who was in his 40s, was one of two people who died in the bomb factory explosion in which Chemlal was injured. Es Satty, who was in his 40s, was one of two people who died in the bomb factory explosion in which Houli was injured.
A number of relatives of the dead terrorists have told how Es Satty attempted, without success, to make them become religiously more conservative. “He wanted to give me some talk and one day he started telling me that listening to music was bad,” one relative told El País newspaper. “I told him not to eat my head. He never spoke to me again.” A number of relatives of the dead terrorists have told how Es Satty attempted, without success, to make them become religiously more conservative. “He wanted to give me some talk and one day he started telling me that listening to music was bad,” one relative told El País newspaper. “I told him not to brainwash me. He never spoke to me again.”
In Ripoll, friends of Abouyaaqoub recalled him as a “calm, rather quiet, somewhat shy” young man, who had been a good student and who had studied, almost effortlessly, for a degree in electromechanics. He was said to have had two passions: cars and football.In Ripoll, friends of Abouyaaqoub recalled him as a “calm, rather quiet, somewhat shy” young man, who had been a good student and who had studied, almost effortlessly, for a degree in electromechanics. He was said to have had two passions: cars and football.
Meanwhile, the French interior minister has confirmed reports that the Audi used by the terrorists in the attack in Cambrils had been caught speeding on camera in Paris.Meanwhile, the French interior minister has confirmed reports that the Audi used by the terrorists in the attack in Cambrils had been caught speeding on camera in Paris.
Gérard Collomb said of the terrorists that “this group came to Paris but it was a quick arrival and departure”.Gérard Collomb said of the terrorists that “this group came to Paris but it was a quick arrival and departure”.
French media reported that the car went through the Paris region about a week before last week’s attacks and that it had also been spotted in the Essonne region south of the capital.French media reported that the car went through the Paris region about a week before last week’s attacks and that it had also been spotted in the Essonne region south of the capital.