Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 19:27, 18 August 2017

This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this article or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

2017 Barcelona attacks
Part of Islamic terrorism in Europe (2014–present)
La Rambla, the site of the van attack; pictured in 2011
Lua error in Module:Location_map/multi at line 143: Unable to find the specified location map definition: "Module:Location map/data/Spain 3" does not exist.
Location	La Rambla, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Coordinates	41°22′53″N 2°10′23″E / 41.38139°N 2.17306°E / 41.38139; 2.17306
Date	17 and 18 August 2017 16:56 - 1:15 CEST (UTC+2)
Target	Pedestrians
Attack type	Vehicle-ramming attack
Weapons	Alcanar: Gas cylinders (accidental explosion) La Rambla: A van and a knife Cambrils: A car and a knife
Deaths	Alcanar: 1 La Rambla: 14 Cambrils: 1 (+5 attackers) Total: 16 (+5 attackers)
Injured	Alcanar: 6 La Rambla: 100+ Cambrils: 6 Total: 130
Perpetrators	Cambrils: 5 attackers

The 2017 Barcelona attack occurred on 17 August 2017 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, when a van was driven into pedestrians in La Rambla, killing 14 and injuring at least 100. Two suspects then fled on foot. A person was stabbed to death by one of the fleeing attackers. A woman was killed in a related attack in Cambrils and another in Alcanar.

Police said two men were arrested in connection with the attack; another was reported killed in a shootout with police. In Ripoll, a man in his 20s was alleged to have rented the van, but told police his ID was stolen. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack through its Amaq News Agency.

An explosion occurred the night before the attack in the Catalan town of Alcanar. It flattened a building and killed a woman. Josep Lluís Trapero, head of the Mossos d'Esquadra, the police force of Catalonia, said it was related to the ramming. Nine hours after the attack, police killed five people in a shootout in Cambrils who were believed to be planning a coordinated suicide bombing terrorist attack.

The attacks were the deadliest in Spain since the March 2004 Madrid train bombings and the deadliest in Barcelona since the 1987 Hipercor bombing.

Attack

At 16:56 CEST (UTC+2), a white Fiat Talento van was driven onto the pavement of Barcelona's La Rambla, crashing into pedestrians for about 550 m between Plaça de Catalunya and Liceu and stopping on a Joan Miró mosaic. The driver then fled.

The first reports stated there had been two deaths and that dozens of people had been injured. The vehicle was reportedly hired in the neighbouring location of Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, along with a similar van, considered a getaway vehicle and found by 19:00 in Vic.

In a police press conference at 19:00 local time, a spokesperson confirmed the terrorist nature of the event, one dead and 32 injured (10 seriously).

At about 20:20 local time, the Catalan government confirmed 13 people were dead and at least 50 were injured. A suspect was in custody. Catalonia's president, Carles Puigdemont, later announced another arrest.

After the attack, the attacker stabbed a civilian to death and stole his car.

Witnesses said the vehicle zigzagged at high speed down Las Ramblas, ramming pedestrians and cyclists.

Barricade ramming

About two hours later, a white Ford Focus rammed a police barricade in Avinguda Diagonal and gunshots were exchanged, leaving an officer injured. The vehicle fled to neighbouring location Sant Just Desvern and the driver abandoned the car near the building known as Walden 7. The police found a man in the rear seat wounded with a bladed weapon, who died shorty afterwards. The man was a factory worker, and police believe it was one of the Ramblas attackers escaping the scene.

Alcanar explosion

On 16 August, the day prior to the attack, an explosion destroyed a house in Alcanar. The explosion killed a woman, injured six other people and caused substantial damage to neighboring houses. Police initially thought it was an accidental gas explosion but now believe that stockpiled explosives accidentally went off. A Moroccan man was injured in the explosion and taken to hospital, where he will be questioned by police. Twenty canisters of butane and propane were found inside the house. A second explosion occurred at the same location during excavation, which may have been caused by a spark from a backhoe igniting a gas canister among the debris. At least nine people were injured, with one police officer in critical condition.

Cambrils attack

Early on 18 August in Cambrils, an Audi A3 automobile was driven into a crowd of pedestrians before it overturned and its occupants started attacking bystanders with knives, one of whom died of her injuries. A policewoman was also injured in the attack. A nearby policeman shot and killed four of the assailants and a fifth died of his injuries later. The men were linked to the Barcelona attack according to the police. Some wore fake explosive belts. A civilian was killed and six others were injured, including a Cuban tourist and a police officer.

Casualties

A total of 16 people were killed: 14 in La Rambla attack, 1 in Alcanar, and 1 in Cambrils. Over 100 people from over 34 nationalities were injured, including 15 people who were critically injured.

Suspects

The Fiat Talento van was apparently rented by a Ripoll resident of "Moroccan origin" who is a convicted criminal. It is not clear if he is in any way involved in the attack. After the man was captured, he alleged his documentation had been stolen by his younger brother, Moussa Oukabir, who is the prime suspect as the driver of the killer vehicle. Moussa Oukabir, who is 17 years old, has had a NIE (Numero de Identidad de Extranjero, i.e., Identity Number as a Foreigner in Spain) since 2005.

Moussa Oukabir wrote online about his desire to "kill the infidels." Newsweek reported that "infidels" refers to non-Muslims. The Spanish daily El Mundo reported that Oukabir posted: "I would kill all the infidels, would only allow the Muslims who follow the religion."

Police said two suspects were arrested in Ripoll and Alcanar. They said the driver had not been arrested, and a manhunt is underway.

The ISIS-linked Amaq News Agency claimed that the attack was carried out in response to its calls for targeting states in the anti-ISIS coalition, of which Spain is a member.

A day after the attack, the number of suspects arrested had risen to four. The third arrest was made in Ripoll.

There are reportedly five suspects killed by Spanish police in an operation resulting from an alleged terror plot separate from the main attack, on Friday, August 18th. Spain's public broadcaster, RTVE, reported that the suspects may have been carrying suicide explosive belts.

Reactions

Domestic

Gàbia operation was deployed by Mossos d'Esquadra, the police force of Catalonia, in order to locate the perpetrator(s). All events in Barcelona were cancelled, and both Carles Puigdemont, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and Ada Colau, the Mayor of Barcelona, cancelled their holidays so as to return to the city and take part in the crisis management. Likewise, Prime Minister of Spain Mariano Rajoy cancelled his holidays and travelled to Barcelona with the Spanish Deputy Prime Minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, and Juan Ignacio Zoido the Spanish Minister of the Interior. Catalonia declared three days of mourning.

La Falange, a Spanish political party, held a protest against the "Islamization of Europe" at La Boquería near the Barcelona attack site on 18 August 2017. Counter-protestors attempted to physically block the protest march, resulting in several physical confrontations.

International

Several world leaders reacted to the events, condemning the attacks and expressing shock and solidarity with Spain, as well as offering support.

See also

• 2017 in Spain
• List of terrorist incidents in August 2017
• Timeline of Barcelona

References

1. "Spain attacks - latest updates". BBC News. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
2. "Cell of eight suspected in Spain attacks". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
3. "At least 13 dead in van crash in Barcelona city center: media". 17 August 2017 – via Reuters.
4. "LIVE: 13 killed and 50 injured in Barcelona attack". Retrieved 17 August 2017.
5. ^ "Van crashes into dozens of people in Barcelona: police". Reuters. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
6. Ward, Victoria. "Barcelona scene". telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
7. "Barcelona: 13 killed as van rams crowds in Las Ramblas". BBC News. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
8. "Barcelona terror attack at iconic Las Ramblas tourist hotspot in Spain". News.com.au.
9. Bayliss, Jon Rogers and Charlie (18 August 2017). "Barcelona attack: Residents of flattened house in Catalonia preparing EXPLOSIVES". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
10. ^ "Atropellament massiu a la Rambla de Barcelona" (in Catalan). 324.cat. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
11. "Van drives into people at Ramblas – aftermath". LiveLeak.com. August 2017.
12. ^ "Barcelona attack: van crashes into crowd at Las Ramblas, killing 12 as Islamic State claims responsibility".
13. "Confirman un segundo muerto en el atropello de Las Ramblas". EFE. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
14. "Lo que se sabe del atentado en La Rambla de Barcelona". El País. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
15. "Atropellament massiu a la Rambla de Barcelona en un atemptat terrorista". Ara.cat. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
16. Mossos (17 August 2017). "En aquests moments es confirma una víctima mortal i 32 ferits, dels quals 10 greus #Barcelona".
17. Galan, Laura. "Almenys 13 persones mortes en l'atropellament massiu a la Rambla de Barcelona". CCMA. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
18. "Tretze morts i més de 50 ferits en un atropellament massiu a la Rambla de Barcelona en un atemptat terrorista". Ara.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 17 August 2017.
19. Mossos (17 August 2017). "There is no one entrenched itself in any bar in the center of #Barcelona. We have arrested one man. We treat it as a terrorist attack". Retrieved 17 August 2017.
20. "Barcelona terror: Suspect 'stabbed man to death'". The Australian. Retrieved 17 August 2017. (subscription required)
21. "Barcelona and Cambrils attacks: What, where and why?". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
22. "Un vehicle atropella una agent dels Mossos a la Diagonal després de saltar-se un control". 324.cat. Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
23. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/18/accidental-blast-thwarts-huge-bomb-attack-by-spain-terror-cell
24. Alexander, Harriet. "Massive explosion at Alcanar house on Wednesday night linked to Barcelona terror attack". telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
25. "Nueve heridos en la segunda explosión en Alcanar Platja (Tarragona)". eldia.es. Eldia. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
26. "Un solo Mosso de Esquadra abatió a cuatro de los terroristas de Cambrils". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
27. "Spain attacks: Suspects shot dead in Cambrils after van-ramming". 18 August 2017 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
28. "Explosive belts worn by Cambrils attackers were fake - Catalan regional head". 18 August 2017 – via Reuters.
29. "Tiroteo en Cambrils tras el atentado en Barcelona".
30. "Police in Cambrils, south of Barcelona, kill 5 terrorism suspects accused of plotting attack". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
31. "Un nen i un veí de Rubí, entre les 14 víctimes mortals dels atacs a la Rambla i Cambrils". Ccma.cat. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
32. ^ "Barcelona attack victims: Seven-year-old boy missing as 13 reported dead". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
33. "Attentato a Barcellona: morto un milanese di 35 anni, era in vacanza con la moglie e i figli". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
34. "Attaque terroriste à Barcelone : un Belge parmi les victimes" (in French). Le Soir. 17 August 2017.
35. ^ Roy, Eleanor Ainge (18 August 2017). "Barcelona victims: citizens from at least 24 countries among dead and injured". Retrieved 18 August 2017 – via The Guardian.
36. "Portuguese woman dies in Barcelona attack, another missing" (in French). 17 August 2017.
37. "Attentat de Barcelone : 26 Français blessés dans l'attaque". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
38. ^ (now), Matthew Weaver; Rawlinson, Kevin; (earlier), Claire Phipps (18 August 2017). "Barcelona attack: 18-year-old identified as suspected van driver – latest updates" – via The Guardian.
39. "4 Filipinos injured in Barcelona attack". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
40. "Greek mother, her two children among the injured in Barcelona van attack". 17 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
41. "MAE: Trei români au fost răniți în atacul terorist din Spania". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
42. "Tres marroquíes entre los heridos de Barcelona, uno de ellos un niño muy grave". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
43. "Three Algerians injured in Barcelona terrorist attack". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
44. News, Taiwan. "2 Taiwanese tourists injured in Barcelona terrorist attack – Taiwan News". Retrieved 18 August 2017. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
45. "LIGE NU: Mand blev fundet død på bagsædet af bil – stod terroristerne også bag det?". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
46. "One Macedonian citizen injured in Barcelona terror attack". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
47. "Una venezolana entre los heridos del atentadi de Barcelona". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
48. "Russian Woman Injured in Barcelona Terror Attack - Russian Tourism Agency".
49. "Cancillería confirma que hay un colombiano herido en atentado de Barcelona". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
50. "Barcelonai terror: nincs magyar halálos áldozat, egy magyar nő könnyebben megsérült" (in Hungarian). 24.hu. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
51. "MSP: Državljanka Srbije povređena u napadu u Barseloni" (in Serbian). b92.net. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
52. "Hay una dominicana entre los heridos del atentado en Barcelona". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
53. "Turkish national among Barcelona injured". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
54. "ברונו הציל את בנו ומת, אלקה נרצחה לעיני ילדיה: קורבנות הפיגוע בברצלונה". 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017 – via Ynet.
55. Hatton, Barry; Wilson, Joseph (17 August 2017). "Barcelona attack: Van driver kills 13, injures 100". CTV News. The Associated Press. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
56. F. Javier Barroso. "The man who drove the cargo van remains escaped". El Pais (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 August 2017. "Fotografía facilitada por la Policía Nacional del joven de origen magrebí" - Photo released by the National Police of the youth of Moroccan origin
57. "Los Mossos buscan a Moussa Oukabir, hermano de un detenido como autor del atentado". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 August 2017. Los Mossos d'Esquadra sospechan que el autor material del atentado terrorista de Barcelona es un joven de entre 17 o 18 años llamado Moussa Oukabir - The Catalonian Police suspect the actual author of the Barcelona Terrorist Attack is a 17 or 18 year old named Moussa Oukabir.
58. Greg Price. "WHO IS MOUSSA OUKABIR? BARCELONA ATTACK SUSPECT MAY HAVE STOLEN BROTHER'S ID TO RENT ATTACK VAN". Newsweek. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
59. Javier Oms. "El conductor del atentado de Barcelona aún no está identificado". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 August 2017. Moussa Oukabir no tiene antecedentes y tiene Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) desde 2005, según han indicado a Europa Press fuentes cercanas a la investigación.
60. Jack Moore. "Barcelona Attack Suspect Moussa Oukabir Posted 'Kill The Infidels' Online". Newsweek. Retrieved 18 August 2017. Moussa Oukabir, now one of the main suspects in the Barcelona vehicle-ramming attack, posted online two years ago that he wanted to "kill the infidels," a reference to non-Muslims.
61. Javier Negre. "El presunto terrorista Moussa Oukabir: "Mataría a todos los infieles, sólo dejaría a los musulmanes que siguiesen la religión"". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 August 2017.
62. "Buscan a Moussa Oukabir como presunto autor del atentado de Las Ramblas". ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 August 2017. the first thing he would do is «kill the infidels and leave only the muslims who follow the religion».
63. Guillermina Torresi; Quico Sallés. "Moussa Oukabir would be the direct author of the attack". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 August 2017. "Matar a los infieles y dejar solo a musulmanes que sigan la religión"
64. "Barcelona terror attack: Two suspects arrested and one man killed in explosion after 12 people die in Las Ramblas van attack". Evening Standard.
65. "Manhunt underway for driver in Barcelona". The West Australian.
66. "Fourth terror suspect arrested after Barcelona and Cambrils attacks". 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
67. "Four arrested over Spain attacks: Who are they?". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
68. EndPlay (18 August 2017). "Spanish police shoot, kill 4 suspects in separate alleged terror plot". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
69. "Atemptat a la Rambla de Barcelona". Ara. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
70. "Rajoy, Santamaría i Zoido viatgen a Barcelona per participar en el gabinet de crisi per l'atemptat". Ara.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 17 August 2017.
71. "Puigdemont decreta tres días de luto en toda Catalunya". Europa Press. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
72. Russia Today, "Scuffles break out between far-right & counter-protesters in Barcelona", 18 August 2017
73. "How the world reacted to the Barcelona terror attack". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.

External links

Media related to 2017 Barcelona attack at Wikimedia Commons

• 2010s
• Spain

• Current events from August 2017
• 2010s in Barcelona
• 2017 crimes in Spain
• 2017 in Catalonia
• 2017 murders in Europe
• 2017 road incidents
• August 2017 crimes in Europe
• August 2017 events in Spain
• Crime in Barcelona
• Events in Barcelona
• Islamic terrorism in Spain
• Islamic terrorist incidents in 2017
• La Rambla, Barcelona
• Mass murder in 2017
• Mass murder in Spain
• Road incidents in Spain
• Terrorist incidents in Europe in 2017
• Terrorist incidents in Spain
• Terrorist incidents involving vehicular attacks
• Vehicular rampage in Europe