SPAIN Terror Attacks: Nation on High Alert as Twin Terror Attacks Leave 14 Dead; Hundreds Injured, 17 Critical

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Category: World News - Europe

Published on Friday, 18 August 2017 08:20

Written by Janet Walker

Fourteen people are dead, and more than 100 injured after coordinated twin car/van ramming terror attacks, hours apart, struck the trendy tourist coastal city of Barcelona and Cambrils, a posh resort town 70 miles south.

The Thursday late afternoon attacks, began in Barcelona when a van traveling at a high rate of speed mounted the sidewalk of the Las Ramblas, a wide pedestrian walkway lined with shops and very popular with tourists and in an all too common scene playing out around the world, proceeded to increase its speed and mow down anyone in its path.

Media reports have the driver veering into crowds with no apparent designation. It wasn't an attack against one group or another it was an attack against all. The driver of the van managed to escape on foot and is still at large.

Chaos, shock and horror followed as the devastation unfolded along the Las Rambles turning the idyllic afternoon in the bustling tourists spot, lined with local shopkeepers selling their wares in an open air market to tourists hoping for one last golden memory of the summer holiday along the Spanish coast, to a death trap.   

Photo by Anonymous

The Barcelona attack left thirteen people, mostly tourists, dead at the scene, seventeen critically injured, listed and fighting for their lives and hundreds more suffered minor injuries.

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Seventy miles south and four hours later, the seaside city of Cambrils was jolted as the terrorists struck again. Utilizing the same car/van ramming method, five men in a Audi A3 plowed through a crowd killing one and injuring six.

Photo by Anonymous

Four of the terrorists were shot and killed. Police reported they were wearing suicide belts.

Islamic State terrorists, ISIS, have claimed responsibility for the Barcelona and Cambrils Attack, which claimed the life of 14 individuals leaving seventeen fighting for their lives and injuring hundreds as the all too familiar car-ramming method.   

Media have released additional information indicating the Spanish Anti-terror teams have released additional information which has now been connected to a larger timeline that began Wednesday, August 16, 2017.

An explosion, either a mishap or bait to draw officials to the scene, occurred near the same seaside city of Cambrils. When authorities arrived a second explosion detonated killing one and injuring 16 others.  

Police have attributed the explosions to a mishap in preparation of a larger explosive device. The apparent accidental explosive may have saved hundreds of lives if the explosives were to be used after the initial car/van ram attacks.

No information or theories have been released indicating the car/van rams were a secondary plan in place should the first plan or part of the coordinated attack that included a detonation of an explosive device.

The usual ISIS tactic is after the car/van ram comes to a stop to continue inflicting mass casualty by the use of a machete or AK47. This method of operation has occurred in all the car/van rams initiated by ISIS or fringe Islamic State groups in the United Kingdom and at Ohio State University attack in the United States.

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Twin explosive devices detonated at the home in Alcanar, a town at the South end of the Catalonia region, could have been meant to accompany the twin car/can ram attacks inflicting mass devastation.

Authorities found a second van north of Barcelona rented at the same time as the Fiat used in the Las Rambles attack.  

King Felipe and PM Mariano Rayjoy Brey

A united Spain and a united Europe including Spain's King Felipe and Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rayjoy Brey, along with many politicians, staffers and others hold a minute of silence for the victims in Barcelona.

Chants from crowds, as far as the eye can see, on Las Rambles one day later after the moment of silence, of "I'm not Afraid" as reported by NBCNews correspondent Richard Engel,  breaks the fear and inspires the world and nation.

Britain Reacts

Britain's Prime Minster Teresa May released this statement "This morning, I spoke with Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister, to offer my deepest condolences after the terrible attack that took place in Barcelona. And the UK stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Spain in confronting and dealing with the evil of terrorism and I have offered any assistance that we can provide. Sadly, I must tell that we do believe that a number of British nationals were caught up in the attack and we're urgently looking into reports of a child believed missing, who is a British dual national," as reported in The Guardian.

Scotland Yard's lead for counter-terrorism policing, Mark Rowley, has said, "Our thoughts are with Spain, the victims, their families and all the other people affected by yesterday's barbaric attack in Barcelona. We are liaising closely with the Spanish authorities and await further updates regarding the nationalities of the deceased and injured. The current threat is global and it is only by working together that it can be defeated. Our network of counter-terrorism police liaison officers posted in locations around the world help us connect investigations internationally. We have a long tradition of collaboration with the very capable Spanish police on terrorism matters," as reported in The Guardian.

Former Presidential Candidate Hillary R. Clinton sent out a message of support on the micro-messaging platform Twitter, "Barcelona, you have our resolve and support in the face of this cowardly attack. We stand together against terrorism wherever it strikes."

Sources: Various

On site images courtesy of "anonymous." Photographer wishes to remain anonymous.