UPDATE: Islamic State Takes Credit for Barcelona Van Attack
A van plowed into numerous pedestrians outside a food market in Barcelona Thursday reportedly leaving 13 dead and dozens injured, in what police are describing as a terror attack.
“Witnesses said a white van driven by a man mounted the pavement before crashing into pedestrians. The driver then fled the scene,” reports Express.co.uk.
Subsequent reports claim gunshots were heard near the La Boqueria food market, and El Periodico newspaper reports that two men entered a nearby bar and took people hostage.
The Daily Mail claims: “Police officers were said to be negotiating with two attackers in a Turkish restaurant where they have taken hostages.”
Barcelona police arrested one suspect, the Associated Press reports, with other reports claiming his name was Driss Oukabir.
Police identify one of Barcelona terrorists as Driss Oukabir. pic.twitter.com/KZ83U8IE6I
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) August 17, 2017
At a press conference, police confirmed one person died and 32 people were injured, 10 seriously.
However, “Local media outlets are reporting that 13 have died, citing police sources,” The Guardian reports.
One witness described the van “was going very fast, without caring about who was in its way.”
Devastating footage from Twitter shows the gruesome aftermath of Thursday’s truck attack.
Warning: graphic footage. Viewer discretion advised.
— necat ulu (@necatulu21) August 17, 2017
Graphic⚠️
Terrorist attack in #Barcelona
Islam must be banned in all Western nations!
Quran 4:100, 5.51pic.twitter.com/h6hrfTgAyo
— Speedcomesfirst (@Speedcomesfirst) August 17, 2017
MAXIMA DIFUSIÓN!
ATENTADO EN LAS RAMBLAS DE BARCELONA. DIFUNDIR pic.twitter.com/AWRVtQbImn— Linaje de Durin (@Luka_Berserker) August 17, 2017
Atentado en Barcelona. Vídeo exclusivo de Corrientes Online pic.twitter.com/JjvITf102l
— Corrientes Online (@CtesOnline) August 17, 2017
Video shows police in #Barcelona walking through an alleyway after deadly terror attack https://t.co/vkzWw2gJLh pic.twitter.com/tunmrzG4cY
— CNN (@CNN) August 17, 2017
“Metro lines have been shut and shoppers and pedestrians have been seen running into buildings as armed police flooded the area,” according to The Sun.
A person on Twitter disputed The Sun’s account:
The Barcelona Metro, working fine as usual, will people please stop reporting otherwise #LoveBarcelona pic.twitter.com/5kmDuMbI4x
— Paul Jarvis (@jarvis_this) August 17, 2017
A graphic from the BBC maps the path of the truck as it rammed into a pedestrian zone:
Thursday’s truck incident follows months of jihadist attacks in Europe and the UK mainly attributed to radical Islamists, with the terror group ISIS claiming responsibility for much of the violence.
More on this as it develops…
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