Barcelona van driver WAS among five jihadists shot dead during Spanish terror attack, police reveal, as hunt continues for four remaining ISIS cell members

  • Moussa Oukabir, 18, is believed to have stolen his brother's passport to rent the van used in the attack
  • He escaped the scene of the attack which killed 13 and injured more than 100 in Barcelona yesterday
  • Authorities are investigating whether he then joined four others for an attack on a nearby beach resort  
  • His brother, Moroccan national Driss Oukabir, handed himself in to police last night and denies involvement
  • Attack suspect Moussa wrote in a post online that his first act as king of the world would be 'kill infidels'
  • Five members of the terror cell were shot dead during a second attack. Four people have been arrested
  • Police say the cell may have had as many as 12 members although ID of Barcelona attacker not confirmed

The terrorist who drove the van which ploughed into crowds of pedestrians in Barcelona's tourist district was among five jihadists shot dead last night by police, sources have revealed.

The driver, who has not been identified, was one of five members of an ISIS cell to be killed in Cambrils in the early hours of this morning, El Pais reports. 

Police are still hunting four men thought to be behind the two terror attacks which killed 14 people in Catalonia, amid fears the death toll could have been much higher had the group not been forced into action by an accidental explosion.

Moussa Oukabir, Mohamed Hychami, Younes Abouyaaqoub and Said Aallaa, have been named in the Spanish press as suspected members of the 12-strong terror cell which plotted Europe's latest terrorist outrage.

Oukabir is thought to have hired the van using his older brother's Driss Oukabir's ID. His mother, Fatima Ouhnine and sisters Fahima and Hanane are believed to have been taken in for questioning by Spain's anti-terrorist police following a raid on his home today.

This is a common procedure when a terror suspect is identified. 

Fellow cell members Hychami, 24, and Abouyaaqoub, 22, are said to come from Ripoll, the same small town in the north of Spain as Oukabir, while Allaa, 18, comes from the nearby village of Ribes de Freser, La Vanguardia reports. 

It is unclear whether any of the four named today were among the five killed during a second attack at the beach resort of Cambrils, but Catalonia police chief Josep Lluis Trapero told a press conference that 'the investigation points in the direction' of the first attacker having taken part in the second assault.

Authorities said the two attacks were the work of a large terror cell who had been plotting for some time from a house in Alcanar, 124 miles (200km) south of Barcelona. The house was destroyed by an explosion of butane gas on Wednesday night that killed one person.

Trapero said police were working on the theory that the suspects were preparing a different type of attack, using explosives or gas, and that the apparently accidental explosion prevented them from carrying out a far more deadly rampage. 

Police are hunting Moussa Oukabir (pictured), Said Aallaa, Mohamed Hychami and Younes Abouyaaqoub, over the two terror attacks in Catalonia which killed 14 people and left more than 100 injured
Police are hunting Moussa Oukabir, Said Aallaa (pictured), Mohamed Hychami and Younes Abouyaaqoub, over the two terror attacks in Catalonia which killed 14 people and left more than 100 injured
Police are hunting Moussa Oukabir, Said Aallaa, Mohamed Hychami (pictured) and Younes Abouyaaqoub, over the two terror attacks in Catalonia which killed 14 people and left more than 100 injured
Police are hunting Moussa Oukabir, Said Aallaa, Mohamed Hychami and Younes Abouyaaqoub (pictured), over the two terror attacks in Catalonia which killed 14 people and left more than 100 injured

Police are hunting (left to right) Moussa Oukabir, Said Aallaa, Mohamed Hychami and Younes Abouyaaqoub, over the two terror attacks in Catalonia which killed 14 people and left more than 100 injured

Police are hunting suspected Barcelona terror attacker Moussa Oukabir, 17
It was suggested this afternoon that he may have joined four other jihadis who launched an assault on a beach resort hours later, but were shot by police

Moussa Oukabir, 17, is suspected of carrying out the Barcelona attack. It was suggested this afternoon that he may then have joined four other jihadis who launched an assault on a beach resort hours later, before they were shot by police

This rented van brought new terror to the streets of Europe when it was driven at speed down a busy street in central Barcelona, killing 13 including a three-year-old boy. Police have suggested the attack then joined in a second attack

This rented van brought new terror to the streets of Europe when it was driven at speed down a busy street in central Barcelona, killing 13 including a three-year-old boy. Police have suggested the attack then joined in a second attack

The second attack was launched in the resort of Cambrils. Footage has emerged of police bringing the second assault to an end by shooting dead one the attackers. He was hit with several bullets but clambered to his feet, climbed some crash barriers and then walked towards armed officers who had to shoot him again.

The second attack was launched in the resort of Cambrils. Footage has emerged of police bringing the second assault to an end by shooting dead one the attackers. He was hit with several bullets but clambered to his feet, climbed some crash barriers and then walked towards armed officers who had to shoot him again.

Police have identified three out of the five suspects killed in the second attack at the beach resort of Cambrils, although no names have been released.

Moussa Oukabir's brother Driss Oukabir, 28, was initially named as a suspect but later handed himself in to a police station in Ripoll. Two other suspects have since been arrested in the town and another in Alcanar. 

Moussa, said to be a Spanish national of Moroccan heritage, had previously written about 'killing infidels' in a chilling online post and has not been seen since the first attack took place.  

Moussa can be seen smiling and posing in images on his social media accounts, which he also used to air hatred for non-Muslims. He also posted pictures of his dog, a Staffordshire bull terrier called 'Vinny' online.

The teenager, reportedly a resident of Barcelona, posted on social network Kiwi that, if he was king of the world, his first act would be to 'kill the infidels'. Asked where he could never live, he replied: 'The Vatican'.

The student, said to like football and IT, lived with his mother and sisters. Neighbours said his father moved out after the parents separated.

He used social media to rate girls' profile pictures out of 10, guess how old other girls were, and joke that he would shoot someone who lied to him.

The older Oukabir brother, whose identity document is said to have been found in the van used in the attack, was arrested yesterday and reportedly told police his brother took his passport.

After he and another suspect were detained yesterday, police arrested a third person, a 34-year-old Moroccan said to be a friend of the borthers, in Ripoll today.

A security expert told the New York Times that police believe two vans were hired using the elder Oukabir brother's ID, after the plotters were unable to hire a larger truck.

Moussa pulling typical teenage poses on social media, where he also posted about hatred for non-Muslims
It is believed he used an ID belonging to his older brother Driss Oukabir, 28, to rent the van used in the attack

Moussa pulling typical teenage poses on social media, where he also posted about hatred for non-Muslims. It is believed he used an ID belonging to his older brother Driss Oukabir, 28, (right) to rent the van used in the attack

An account with Moussa Oukabir's name and photograph posted on social media that, on his first day ruling the world, he would 'kill the infidels' and 'let Muslims follow the religion'

An account with Moussa Oukabir's name and photograph posted on social media that, on his first day ruling the world, he would 'kill the infidels' and 'let Muslims follow the religion'

Moussa also used social media to rate girls' profile picture, guess their ages and say he would never live in the Vatican
Moussa also used social media to rate girls' profile picture, guess their ages and say he would never live in the Vatican
Moussa also used social media to rate girls' profile picture, guess their ages and say he would never live in the Vatican

Moussa also used social media to rate girls' profile picture, guess their ages and say he would never live in the Vatican

Spanish police are now looking for the teenager in connection with yesterday's attack, which killed at least 13 people and injured more than 100
Moussa is said to be a Spanish national of Moroccan origin. His brother is understood to have been born in the small Moroccan town of Aghbala

Spanish police are now looking for the teenager in connection with yesterday's attack, which killed at least 13 people and injured more than 100

The older brother Driss, who is understood to have been arrested but denies involvement, was pictured online relaxing on a beach in a photo changed to his profile picture this week

The older brother Driss, who is understood to have been arrested but denies involvement, was pictured online relaxing on a beach in a photo changed to his profile picture this week

Moussa's older brother was born in the small Moroccan town of Aghbala, on the edge of the Sahara Desert. He claimed online he was from Marseille in the south of France.

Driss spent a month in prison in Figueres, north of Barcelona, when he was suspected of sex crime, before being released in 2012. Police believe he was in the Spanish capital of Madrid last year.

He is said to have been previously arrested over violence and was not suspected of extremism. He reportedly denies being part of the terror plot. 

The two brothers have lived in Ripoll for many years. Moussa had studied there and played football for a local youth team while Driss worked for some time in a restaurant.

The mayor of Ripoll, Jordi Munell, said: 'They have lived here for many years and we have never had a problem. People here are sad and worried. We are a town of around 11,000 people with nine per cent immigrants. We practically all know each other.'

Police arrested a suspect, said to be a friend of the Oukabirs who is from Morocco said to be 30, in Ripoll today

Police arrested a suspect, said to be a friend of the Oukabirs who is from Morocco said to be 30, in Ripoll today

A man who was said to be a friend of the brothers was bundled into a car by Catalonian Police today as locals looked on

A man who was said to be a friend of the brothers was bundled into a car by Catalonian Police today as locals looked on

Police were today guarding a property in Alcanar, south of Barcelona, where members of the cell blew up a house and a suspect has been arrested since the attack

Police were today guarding a property in Alcanar, south of Barcelona, where members of the cell blew up a house and a suspect has been arrested since the attack

Police said they arrested two more people Friday, after an initial two were arrested Thursday - three Moroccans and one Spaniard, none with terror records. 

At least three of them were detained in the northern town of Ripoll. Another arrest was made in Alcanar, south of Barcelona, where a gas explosion in a house Wednesday that killed one person was also being investigated as a focus of the probe.

Specialist anti-terrorist police had to protect a terror suspect from a baying mob of angry citizens after he was arrested a short distance from Moussa Oukabir's home in Ripoll.

The terror suspect, named locally as Salh el-Karib, was lead out of a second-storey apartment in the centre of town with a blanket over his head.

A 50-strong mob of angry citizens cursed and threatened him as he was lead to a waiting anti-terror police van.

The crowd shouted: 'Son of a b****. You will die for what you did in Barcelona. We know where you live. You have nowhere to hide.' 

The terrorist gunned down twice lies dead on the ground - four of the five jihadis were shot dead by the same hero policeman, it emerged today

The terrorist gunned down twice lies dead on the ground - four of the five jihadis were shot dead by the same hero policeman, it emerged today

This is the overturned Audi A3 used by a gang of five jihadis in suicide belts who ploughed into crowds in the seaside town of Cambrils. The attack 70 miles from Barcelona came eight hours after 13 were killed in the Catalan city in a van attack

The two attacks the carried out in the north and south of Catalonia. Oukabir is from Ripoll in the north. A house was destroyed in an explosion in Alcanar, in the south, now linked to the attacks

WHAT WE KNOW: TERRORISTS ARRESTED AND KILLED

Four people have been arrested and six have been killed in connection with the terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambril.

The four arrested include a Spaniard born in Melilla, a Spanish territory in North Africa, and a Moroccan national, understood to be Driss Oukabir, the alleged attacker's older brother.

Driss claims he was not involved and that his identity documents had been stolen by his younger brother.

Moussa Oukabir, 17, is now being hunted by police, thought to have been the driver of the van that killed 13.

The man from Melilla, was arrested in Alcanar, 120 miles south of Barcelona, where the gas explosion in a house is being linked to the investigation.

One man died in this explosion, who has since been linked to the attacks last night. 

The third arrest, said to be of a 30-year-old Moroccan, was also made in Ripoll, on Friday morning. 

The fourth arrest, also in Ripoll was announced on Friday lunchtime. 

Five men wearing fake suicide belts were shot dead by police after they launched a second terrorist attack in Cambrils, 70 miles southwest of Barcelona at 1am Friday morning, injuring seven people by driving an Audi A3 into crowds on the seafront. 

One person injured in the Cambrils attack died in hospital on Friday. 

The Cambrils terrorists bailed out of their crashed Audi clutching knives used to stab a woman in the face and were seen smiling at police who shot them dead in the street at around 1am. 

Fitzroy Davies, from Wolverhampton, described how officers gunned down one of them and filmed the moment he rose to his feet and started 'ranting and raving' before being shot again.

He said: 'He must have been on drugs. He took the first round of shots he fell on the floor, and then within two seconds, I thought I was watching a film, one of them horror films, the guy just stood up. He was taunting, smiling, laughing and he carried on walking to the police, and then they gave it to him again, a couple more shots and then he fell to the ground'.

He said that his suicide belt 'looked fake', adding: 'It looked like he was wearing Coke cans on him'.

ISIS has been feeding its fighters cheap super-amphetamine pills called Captagon, used to induce euphoria and increase adrenaline during their murderous missions. 

Police in Spain say that attacks in Barcelona, Cambrils had been prepared some time ago.

Senior police official Josep Lluis Trapero said Friday police believe the two attacks were connected with an explosion in a house in the town of Alcanar on Wednesday in which one person was killed. Police believe one of the person injured in that blast and now arrested had links to the two attacks.

Trapero said Cambrils terrorists carried an ax and knives in the car and body belts with false explosives.

A third man arrested in connection with the attacks is a Moroccan aged 30 and is said to be a friend Driss Oukabir, local media reported. He was held at an address in the small town of Ripoll. 

Spanish police announced the arrest of the fourth man on Friday afternoon. 

Armed officers from the Mossos d'Esquadra police force, wearing balaclavas to cover their faces, were posted outside some of the properties. 

'We don't know if the driver [of the van that killed people] is still in Barcelona or not, or what direction he fled in,' Catalan interior minister Joaquim Forn has told SER Radio.

'We had local police on the scene, but we were unable to shoot him, as the Ramblas were packed with people.'

In the aftermath of the attack police circulated an image of the elder Oukabir, saying he had rented out a second van thought to be intended as a getaway vehicle - where his documents were found.

But police sources said Driss later handed himself in at a police station in Ripoll, 65 miles north of Barcelona, claiming his brother had stolen his documents, leading to police now focusing on finding Moussa.  

Authorities tow the van which  ploughed into the crowd on Las Ramblas on Thursday away from the scene

Authorities tow the van which ploughed into the crowd on Las Ramblas on Thursday away from the scene

Damage: The front of the van can be seen destroyed in these images taken late last night

Damage: The front of the van can be seen destroyed in these images taken late last night

Hunted: The driver of the van is still on the run, but it is not known who was behind the wheel

Hunted: The driver of the van is still on the run, but it is not known who was behind the wheel

This followed the arrests of Driss Oukabir and a Spanish national in connection with the mass killing, but neither of them was at the wheel of the van during the attack.

Authorities are reported to have found a Spanish passport in the van used in the attack, thought to belong to Driss, but the driver is still be at large.

In a separate incident, a car drove through a police roadblock outside Barcelona, injuring two officers, one of who suffered a broken leg.

A man, thought to have been the owner of the car, was found dead from stab wounds, suggesting the car may have been hijacked.

It is unclear whether the incident was related to the terror attack or the fate of the man who was driving the car, who is thought to have fled.  

Catalonia's regional president says that there's at least one 'terrorist still out there' after the attacks in Barcelona and a seaside resort. 

Spanish police has linked Thursday's attack to an explosion that killed at least one person in a Alcanar, 120 miles south of the Barcelona

Spanish police has linked Thursday's attack to an explosion that killed at least one person in a Alcanar, 120 miles south of the Barcelona

Police rushed over to treat a fellow officer after a driver in a Ford Focus drove through a roadblock outside Barcelona in the hours after the attack. The car's owner was found dead inside. It is unclear whether the incident is linked to the terror attack

Police rushed over to treat a fellow officer after a driver in a Ford Focus drove through a roadblock outside Barcelona in the hours after the attack. The car's owner was found dead inside. It is unclear whether the incident is linked to the terror attack

Carles Puigdemont also told Onda Cero radio 'we don't have information regarding the capacity to do more harm.'

News of the arrests came as the first victims of the attack were named today. Bruno Gulotta, a computer salesman from Legnano, in northern Italy, was named as being among the dead, as was  44-year-old Elke Vanbockrijck, from Tongeren in Belgium. She was on holiday with her husband and sons at the time. 

Horrifying pictures and video from the scene of the Las Ramblas attack show armed police and paramedics rushing around the busy promenade in the centre of the city, as victims lie hurt in the street. 

ISIS claimed responsibility for the atrocity on the city's famous promenade, Las Ramblas.

Police launched 'Operation Cage' to capture those responsible for the attack and also denied early reports that hostages were being held in a bar in the city. 

The force hinted that the driver of the van who launched the attack was still on the run and Mr Trapero said the attack was designed 'to kill as many people as possible'.

He said police were connecting the attack to an explosion at a house in Alcanar, 125 miles south of Barcelona, on Wednesday night.  

At least 13 people have been killed in this afternoon's attack, and a suspect has been arrested by police

At least 13 people have been killed in this afternoon's attack, and a suspect has been arrested by police

People left a fastfood with hands up as asked by policemen after a van ploughed into the crowd

People left a fastfood with hands up as asked by policemen after a van ploughed into the crowd

The white van (pictured) drove into crowds of people who had gathered on Las Ramblas in Barcelona 

The white van (pictured) drove into crowds of people who had gathered on Las Ramblas in Barcelona 

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy tweeted: 'The terrorists will never defeat a united people who love liberty over barbarity. All of Spain is with the victims and families.

'I am heading to Barcelona. Maximum coordination to arrest the attackers, reinforce security and attend to those affected.' 

Eyewitnesses reported seeing people running away and screaming after the terror attack happened.

A witness called Angel said he had seen the attacker close up and described him as 'a young man, maximum 25 years old, chestnut brown hair and skinny.'

Others described him as about 5ft 6in tall and wearing a blue and white striped top.

Another witness, Isaac, said: 'The person was accelerating. He mounted the pavement to run people over. We saw the van passing by running people over at 50 miles an hour. It was as if it was driving through a field of corn.'

A taxi driver told Catalan TV station TV3: 'The van was doing zigzags knocking over everyone he could. It was shocking.' 

 

British boy, seven, among those missing after Barcelona massacre as death toll from attacks rises to 14 and photos emerge of Las Ramblas victims - including Italian father killed while shielding his son 

Desperate families of those missing after the Spanish terror attacks searched for their loved ones on Friday as the death toll rose to 14 and the first victims were identified.

Seven-year-old Julian Cadman, who was born in Kent but moved to Australia three years ago, was named among the missing by his cousin who posted an appeal online after the boy's mother, Jom, was listed as being in a serious condition in hospital by Spanish authorities.

His father, Andrew, is currently flying from Sydney to Spain to help in the search for his missing son without knowing whether the boy is dead or alive.

Julian Cadman, seven, believed to be from Britain, is missing after the terror attack in Barcelona has his family appeal for news

Julian Cadman, seven, who was born in Kent but living in Sydney at the time of the terror attack, is missing. Italian Bruno Gulotta, the father of two young children, was crushed to death on Las Ramblas in Barcelona on Thursday

Julian was pictured enjoying his holiday in Barcelona just hours before the attack took place. British authorities have confirmed 'a small number of citizens' were caught up in the attack, but would not say if they were among the injured or dead

Julian was pictured enjoying his holiday in Barcelona just hours before the attack took place. British authorities have confirmed 'a small number of citizens' were caught up in the attack, but would not say if they were among the injured or dead

Luca Russo, 25, an engineer from Padua, in Italy, was also confirmed among the dead. He was on holiday at the time of the attack alongside his girlfriend Marta Scomazzon

Luca Russo, 25, an engineer from Padua, in Italy, was also confirmed among the dead. He was on holiday at the time of the attack alongside his girlfriend Marta Scomazzon

Meanwhile Heidi Nunes, from California, also appealed for information about her husband Jared Tucker, 43, on Friday after they got separated during the attack while out shopping.

Elsewhere the first of those killed in the ISIS attack on Las Ramblas were named as Italians Bruno Gulotta and Luca Russo, Belgian mother-of-two Elke Vanbockrijck, 44, and 57-year-old Spaniard Fransisco Lopez Rodriguez.

A three-year-old Spanish boy from Llimiana was also killed in the attack, the town's mayor said. He was with his mother, grandmother, sister and aunt who was injured trying to save him. 

It came as the death toll from both the Barcelona and Cambrils attack was raised to 14, while 130 people were confirmed injured, including 17 in critical condition and 30 in serious condition.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May said authorities are 'urgently looking into reports' of a dual-nationality child believed to be missing in Spain, and confirmed that 'a number of British nationals' were caught up in the attack.

Mrs May gave no indication if those Britons were among those wounded or killed. 

Mr Gulotta, a computer salesman from Legnano, in northern Italy, was crushed to death in the Barcelona attack as he walked along holding his six-year-old son's hand.

Miss Scomazzon (pictured with boyfriend Luca before the attack) was left with a broken collarbone after being hit, Italian media reported on Friday

Miss Scomazzon (pictured with boyfriend Luca before the attack) was left with a broken collarbone after being hit, Italian media reported on Friday

Elke Vanbockrijck, 44, from Belgium, has been identified as being among the dead. Authorities said she was on holiday with her husband and sons when she was run down and killed

Elke Vanbockrijck, 44, from Belgium, has been identified as being among the dead. Authorities said she was on holiday with her husband and sons when she was run down and killed

His wife, Martina, said he died kneeling down to shield their son and seven-month-old daughter from the van, according to boss Pino Bruno, who claimed to have spoken with her.

Meanwhile Belgian authorities named Mrs Vanbockrijck, from Tongeren, as among the dead, saying she was on holiday with her husband and sons at the time.

Spanish authorities said Mr Rodriguez, who was pictured on Las Ramblas moments before the attack, died on the spot after being hit by the terrorist's van. He was earlier reported as missing. 

Seven-year-old Julian Cadman's grandmother Norma Canaveral told MailOnline: 'We are just so worried. I am just waiting for news, hoping for good news.'

The 66-year-old, from London, said: 'I don't know what to say. His mother is in the hospital, she's ok, but she became separated from Julian and we don't know where he is. All we can do it wait.'

Julian was born in Kent and attended the Chiddingstone Nursery before moving to Sydney three years ago with his parents Jom and Andrew Cadman.

Andrew is from Australia and Jom is originally from The Philippines.

Spanish authorities say 57-year-old  Francisco Lopez Rodriguez (pictured on Las Ramblas moments before the attack) died on the spot after being hit by ISIS terrorists. He was earlier reported as missing

Spanish authorities say 57-year-old  Francisco Lopez Rodriguez (pictured on Las Ramblas moments before the attack) died on the spot after being hit by ISIS terrorists. He was earlier reported as missing

Heidi Nunes, from California, said online that her husband Jared Tucker, 43, is missing after the pair got separated on Las Ramblas during the attack

Heidi Nunes, from California, said online that her husband Jared Tucker, 43, is missing after the pair got separated on Las Ramblas during the attack

Norma, who is Julian's aunt but referred to in the family as granny, described the boy as 'lovely', 'bubbly'  and 'sweet'

 

Heartbroken but unbowed: King Felipe leads a minute's silence as Barcelona stands to remember those killed along Las Ramblas before chanting 'We are not afraid'

King Felipe has led a minute's silence at noon today as Barcelona stood to remember those killed along Las Ramblas. 

The monarch stood between Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and President of the Generalitat of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont as they paused to reflect in Placa de Catalunya.

After the moment of reflection, the crowds erupted into chants of 'No tenim por! - meaning 'We are not afraid!' 

The Spanish royal family also issued an unusually strongly-worded statement about the attack: 'They are assassins, criminals who won't terrorise us. All of Spain is Barcelona.' 

King Felipe (centre) has led a minute's silence at noon today in Placa de Catalunya as Barcelona stood to remember those killed along Las Ramblas

King Felipe (centre) has led a minute's silence at noon today in Placa de Catalunya as Barcelona stood to remember those killed along Las Ramblas

After the moment of reflection, the crowds erupted into chants of 'No tenim por! - meaning 'We are not afraid!'

After the moment of reflection, the crowds erupted into chants of 'No tenim por! - meaning 'We are not afraid!'

An elderly man wiped his face as he stood for the moment of silence at Placa de Catalunya, Barcelona

An elderly man wiped his face as he stood for the moment of silence at Placa de Catalunya, Barcelona

These mourners held signs simply saying 'Barcelona' at the minute's silence held in honour of the victims today 

These mourners held signs simply saying 'Barcelona' at the minute's silence held in honour of the victims today 

The monarch stood between Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and President of the Generalitat of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont as they paused to reflect 

The monarch stood between Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and President of the Generalitat of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont as they paused to reflect 

The monarch wore black to the honour the victims at today's sombre occasion after yesterday's devastating attack 

The monarch wore black to the honour the victims at today's sombre occasion after yesterday's devastating attack 

This morning, Barcelona's famous Las Ramblas walkway quietly reopened to the public, after a van rampage that killed 13 and wounded more than 100.

Police closed down the city center yesterday evening, after the van zigzagged down the packed Ramblas before the driver escaped.

This morning, emotional residents and tourists were allowed past police lines and slowly trickled back to their homes and hotels.

Lawyer and University of Glasgow rector Aamer Anwar, who is in Barcelona, said a heavy police presence remained on the streets.

'It's huge,' he said. 'Literally you can see every 15 to 20 metres there are armed police officers, there are vans, police cars at every corner. So there is an extremely high police presence everywhere.

This aerial image shows the enormous crowds of thousands marking their respects for the Barcelona attacks 

This aerial image shows the enormous crowds of thousands marking their respects for the Barcelona attacks 

Pigeons fly over crowds gathered for a minute of silence in memory of the terrorist attacks victims in Las Ramblas

Pigeons fly over crowds gathered for a minute of silence in memory of the terrorist attacks victims in Las Ramblas

People holding a Catalan flag gathered for the memorial behind a row of regional police officers 

People holding a Catalan flag gathered for the memorial behind a row of regional police officers 

Thousands of locals and tourists turned out to pay their respects to those killed in the attack and their families 

Thousands of locals and tourists turned out to pay their respects to those killed in the attack and their families 

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

What's This?

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.