Spanish police foil second terror attack, kill five; van driver yet to be held

Barcelona witnessed a second terror attack in Spain’s northeastern Catalan region, early on Friday after a van on Thursday evening drove into crowds in the Las Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona on Thursday, killing 13 and injuring around100.

On Friday morning the terrorists’car overturned on the outskirts of Barcelona and when the terrorists came out, they were shot by the police in the town of Cambrils. Local newspapers reported that a group of 12 terrorists were involved in the two attacks. Apparently the solitary terrorist who was driving the van on Thursday evening, fled on foot and the hunt is still on to track him. The Islamic State, said Spanish authorities, had taken responsibility for the attack.

Two people have been arrested, but police say neither was the driver of the first van. Police have released a photo of a man named as Driss Oubakir, whose documents were used to rent the van involved in the attack.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy described it a “jihadist attack”. He has announced three days of national mourning and a minute's silence.

“We are united to defeat terrorism. The Generalitat, #Barcelona and all the security forces are backed by the Government, The priority is to care for those affected, to stop the killers and to recover the normality. The Spaniards will defeat terrorism” he tweeted.

The world has strongly condemned terrorism, expressed grief and shared condolences on Twitter.

People are also helping victims on Twitter. Harjinder S Kukreja has shared details of Sikh Gurudwaras that are staying open to help the victims.