13 Killed, 100 Injured In Spain Attack

Barcelona: The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for an attack in which a van ran over pedestrians here in Las Ramblas boulevard. At least 13 persons were killed and more than 100 injured.

Confirming the death toll, Head of Catalonia's Regional Interior Department Joaquim Forn said in a tweet on Thursday: "My strongest condemnation of the terrorist attack in Barcelona. We can confirm 13 deaths." He added that 15 of the injured were in serious condition and that the death toll was likely to rise.

The Mossos d'Esquadra regional police force said two persons have been detained in connection with the attack, though neither of them was the driver of the van. A third person was found dead in his car 3 km from a police checkpoint where he exchanged shots with officers. One of the arrested is Driss el-Ouakbir, a man of northwestern African origin who is believed to have rented the van used in the attack. He told police his identity papers have been stolen.

The attack happened at 5.00 pm (local time) when the van rammed into several vehicles before barrelling down the tree-lined central pedestrian-only area of Las Ramblas. Regional police and emergency services were deployed to the area, which is at the heart of the city's touristic centre and is visited by thousands every day.

-IANS