Spain hunts driver who killed 13 in Barcelona, foils bomb plot

CGTN photo

- Barcelona attack: 13 killed and 100 others injured after van mowed down pedestrians in Las Ramblas

- Cambrils attack: Five terror suspects killed, six civilians and one police officer injured

Two deadly car rampages in Spain, separated by only a few hours on Thursday, spread panic in the country and triggered a sweeping anti-terror operation on Friday morning as fears of terrorist attacks have been renewed across Europe, whose streets have seen civilians being intentionally mowed down by speeding vehicles in recent months.

Thirteen people were killed and 100 others injured after a van ploughed into crowds in Barcelona's iconic Las Ramblas tourist area, in an attack that was claimed by ISIL. Hours later, a group of perpetrators drove into people in the Spanish seaside resort of Cambrils, southwest of Barcelona, injuring six civilians and one police officer.

A tourist from Hong Kong was slightly wounded in the attack in Barcelona, said China's Consulate General.

Two suspects were arrested but the driver of the rented white vehicle is believed to be still at large, police said.

ISIL said its "soldiers" carried out the attack, but gave no evidence to back its claim.

Early Friday morning, police announced they killed five suspects during an operation in Cambrils and asked people to stay indoors.

Police said they were “working on the hypothesis that the terrorists shot dead in Cambrils could be linked to what happened in Barcelona.”

Catalan police said on Twitter that a bomb squad in Cambrils will carry out several controlled explosions after they determined that the attackers were carrying explosive belts.

The authorities also said an explosion on Wednesday evening at a house outside Barcelona, which killed one person, was in connection with Las Ramblas attack.

Residents of the house were preparing explosives, according to police.

PM calls for global response

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy branded the van attack in Barcelona as "jihadist terrorism" that required a global response.

"Today the fight against terrorism is the principal priority for free and open societies like ours. It is a global threat and the response has to be global," Rajoy told a news conference in Barcelona.

He also declared three days of national mourning over the attack.

A spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he "condemns today's terrorist attack on Barcelona" and "hopes that those responsible for this heinous violence will be swiftly brought to justice."