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| Barcelona attack: suicide vest found in exploded safehouse in Alcanar, say Catalan police | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A suicide belt has been found in the house used to plan a terrorist attack in Barcelona, Spanish police have said. | |
| It is believed the property in the town of Alcanar, a coastal town about 200 kilometres (124 miles) south of Barcelona, was used as a bomb factory by the cell responsible for two vehicle ramming attacks and a carjacking last week. Combined, the violence left 15 people dead and 120 injured. | |
| The house in Alcanar was destroyed in a suspected gas explosion the night before the attack after bomb-making preparations went wrong, police believe. The alleged ringleader, imam Abdelbaki Es Satty, 45, is believed to have died in the explosion. | |
| Another suspect is believed to have died in the blast, which investigators initially thought was linked to a drug laboratory. | Another suspect is believed to have died in the blast, which investigators initially thought was linked to a drug laboratory. |
| At least 100 butane gas canisters were found in the remains of the destroyed property. In addition, investigators found traces of triacetone triperoxide, a high explosive often used by extremist group Isis, who have claimed responsibility for the attacks. | At least 100 butane gas canisters were found in the remains of the destroyed property. In addition, investigators found traces of triacetone triperoxide, a high explosive often used by extremist group Isis, who have claimed responsibility for the attacks. |
| Mohamed Houli Chemlal, 21, survived the Alcanar explosion and was arrested. He admitted in court yesterday a larger attack was planned before the militants’ plot went wrong, according to sources. | Mohamed Houli Chemlal, 21, survived the Alcanar explosion and was arrested. He admitted in court yesterday a larger attack was planned before the militants’ plot went wrong, according to sources. |
| The discovery of a suicide vest added a further sinister element to the plans of the terrorists, who carried out relatively low-tech attacks, despite its brutality. | The discovery of a suicide vest added a further sinister element to the plans of the terrorists, who carried out relatively low-tech attacks, despite its brutality. |
| Six attackers wearing fake suicide vests, including alleged van driver Younes Abouyaaqoub, were shot dead by police. | |
| But authorities fear the attacks could have been far more devastating if explosives had been used, potentially with the hired vans to create Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED). | But authorities fear the attacks could have been far more devastating if explosives had been used, potentially with the hired vans to create Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED). |
| The death toll could have reached the hundreds if the terrorists’ suspected original plans had been carried out in full, officers said. | The death toll could have reached the hundreds if the terrorists’ suspected original plans had been carried out in full, officers said. |
| Among the Barcelona landmarks the terrorists intended to target was the historic Sagrada Familia cathedral, popular with tourists from around the world. | Among the Barcelona landmarks the terrorists intended to target was the historic Sagrada Familia cathedral, popular with tourists from around the world. |
| Chemlal and another suspect, Driss Oukabir, have been charged with murder, possession of explosives and membership of a terrorist organisation. Another, Salah el Karib, is being held while officers continue their enquiries. And a fourth man, Mohammed Aalla, has been freed on bail due to a lack of evidence. | Chemlal and another suspect, Driss Oukabir, have been charged with murder, possession of explosives and membership of a terrorist organisation. Another, Salah el Karib, is being held while officers continue their enquiries. And a fourth man, Mohammed Aalla, has been freed on bail due to a lack of evidence. |
| The investigation has been continuing in earnest in Spain, where two police raids took place late on Tuesday night. | The investigation has been continuing in earnest in Spain, where two police raids took place late on Tuesday night. |
| Officers said they were investigating objects recovered in a cybercafe in Ripoll, where a suspect now in custody worked, and a house in Vilafranca del Penedes. | Officers said they were investigating objects recovered in a cybercafe in Ripoll, where a suspect now in custody worked, and a house in Vilafranca del Penedes. |
| Vilafranca is close to where Abouyaaqoub was shot dead on Monday. He is known to have changed clothes, picked up knives and a fake explosive belt in the time between the attack Thursday and his death. Investigators are trying to establish where he spent four days in between. | Vilafranca is close to where Abouyaaqoub was shot dead on Monday. He is known to have changed clothes, picked up knives and a fake explosive belt in the time between the attack Thursday and his death. Investigators are trying to establish where he spent four days in between. |
| But no details were given on the nature of the material found during the searches. | But no details were given on the nature of the material found during the searches. |
| Questions have also been raised about the communication within Mossos d'Esquadra following the Alcanar blasts. Sources told Reuters the terrorists’ plans could have been discovered sooner had specialist bomb squad officers been sent immediately to the levelled house. | Questions have also been raised about the communication within Mossos d'Esquadra following the Alcanar blasts. Sources told Reuters the terrorists’ plans could have been discovered sooner had specialist bomb squad officers been sent immediately to the levelled house. |
| The investigation has also branched into France, where a group of the suspects visited Paris briefly just two days prior to the attack. An Audi used by the attackers to ram pedestrians in Cambrils was caught by a speeding camera outside the French capital. | The investigation has also branched into France, where a group of the suspects visited Paris briefly just two days prior to the attack. An Audi used by the attackers to ram pedestrians in Cambrils was caught by a speeding camera outside the French capital. |
| Spain's interior minister, Juan Ignacio Zoido, visited his counterpart the neighbouring country on Wednesday. | Spain's interior minister, Juan Ignacio Zoido, visited his counterpart the neighbouring country on Wednesday. |
| "We are working to determine why the authors of the attacks came to Paris and what they did in the Paris region," said Gerard Collomb, the French minister. | "We are working to determine why the authors of the attacks came to Paris and what they did in the Paris region," said Gerard Collomb, the French minister. |
| Dozens of French nationals were hurt in last week’s attack. | |
| France has experienced a number of significant Islamist terrorist attacks in recent years, which have left 238 people dead since January 2015. | France has experienced a number of significant Islamist terrorist attacks in recent years, which have left 238 people dead since January 2015. |
| Additional reporting by agencies. | Additional reporting by agencies. |