Attack in Spain. Two terrorist attacks occurred in Spain in a day

On August 17 and on the night of August 18, a series of terrorist attacks took place in the autonomous community of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. 14 people died, 130 were injured

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August 17 at about 18:00 Moscow time into the crowd on the Rambla (the main pedestrian street in Barcelona). Eyewitnesses say that "the truck jumped out of the roundabout in Plaza Catalunya and entered the Rambla without slowing down." Having entered the pedestrian zone, the driver increased his speed and immediately knocked down five or six people. After that, the minibus drove more than 500 meters in zigzags, trying to knock down as many people as possible.

Shots were heard near the scene. Following the attack on the Rambla, a gunman broke into a nearby Turkish restaurant, Luna de Estambul. He closed himself inside and presumably took hostages. Police later cordoned off the restaurant.

Around 21:00 Moscow time in Barcelona, ​​three police officers tried to stop a white Ford Focus for a check, but the car ran over them. Then the passengers and the driver ran out of the car, fired at the police and ran away.

Sky News citing local media wrote that the driver of the Ford Focus was killed in the shootout. But according to other unconfirmed reports, the victim has nothing to do with terrorists.

The police reported the search for a bomb in the outskirts of Barcelona.

The bodies of the terrorists were wearing suicide belts. When the sappers carried out controlled explosions, it turned out that the belts were not real.

A few hours after the attack in Cambrils, the police warned about possible terrorist attacks in the south of Barcelona. Residents of Barcelona and Cambrils have been asked not to go outside.

Victims

Another 130 were injured, 17 of them are in critical condition, 30 are in serious condition. Among the injured and killed are citizens and nationals of 34 countries, including a Russian woman: she. Among those killed were three Germans, a Belgian citizen and a three-year-old girl, among the victims were 26 Frenchmen, 13 Germans, four Cubans, four Australians, three Dutch citizens, two Belgian citizens, one of whom is in serious condition, and several British citizens. Two Taiwanese citizens were seriously injured, one Hong Kong citizen and one US citizen were slightly injured.

There are also children among the victims. A six-year-old girl was hospitalized in critical condition. A five-year-old boy from Ireland had his leg broken, his father also injured his leg. Two children from Greece and their mother were injured. A child from the UK and a seven-year-old boy from Australia are missing. During the terrorist attack, he lost his mother, who was seriously injured and is now in the hospital.

On August 18, the police named the first victim of the Barcelona attack. This is Italian Bruno Gulota, an employee of an IT company and the father of two children. The second victim is 44-year-old Belgian Elke Vanbokrishke, who came to Spain on vacation with her husband and sons. The third victim is 57-year-old Spaniard Francisco Lopez Rodriguez. His wife was seriously injured during the attack. The fourth victim is a US citizen. His name has not yet been released.

During the attack in Cambrils, a police officer and six bystanders, including one Cuban, were injured. On August 18, one of the victims died.

Suspects

The police ruled the incident a terrorist attack. Responsibility for attacks took against the Islamic State*.

First, the police arrested two suspects, but neither of them was the driver of a white minibus that drove into the crowd on the Rambla. One of those arrested is a Moroccan citizen, the other is a Spanish citizen of Moroccan origin. Moroccan name is Driss Oukabir, he was arrested in the city of Ripol, north of Barcelona. Presumably, his passport was found in a white minibus.

La Vanguardia reported that Ukabir himself came to the police and stated that it was not him. Perhaps Ukabir's passport was stolen by his brother, 17-year-old Musa Ukabir. On the morning of August 18, a third suspect was arrested in Ripoll. Around noon Moscow time, the police officially announced that it was Musa Ukabir who was driving the white minibus. The terrorist has not yet been caught.

On the afternoon of August 18, a fourth suspect was arrested. His name has not yet been released. The police believe that a cell of eight terrorists prepared a series of attacks. They planned to carry out terrorist attacks with gas canisters.

Reaction

On August 17, Barcelona taxi drivers took people home for free. In public transport, fares have also been abolished.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has declared three days of mourning. He expressed condolences to the victims of the attack and their loved ones and called on the international community to fight terrorism. On the afternoon of August 18, Rajoy called an emergency meeting. In the near future, the foreign ministers of France and Germany will arrive in Spain. The mayor of French Nice, where, said he would try to convince the European Union to take measures to combat terrorism.

On August 17, a van drove into a crowd of people in the center of Barcelona. As a result, there were 13 dead and more than 100 injured. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS, banned in the Russian Federation).

Spain tightened its counter-terrorism strategy after the 2004 terrorist attack in Madrid, writes . Further tightening of security measures took place in 2015. Particular attention was paid to areas popular with tourists. In the past few years, Spanish intelligence agencies have focused on identifying Islamist radicals with links to IS. Between 2013 and 2016 authorities detained 130 people on suspicion of terrorist activities.

Arrest of those suspected of financing Islamic radicals. Spain, 2016

In its foreign policy, Spain also tried to protect itself from terrorist attacks. After the terrorist attack in Madrid, Spanish politicians were extremely skeptical about the operations carried out by the US and NATO in countries like Libya and Mali. This was motivated by the fact that such interventions play into the hands of extremist leaders, who use it as a means of anti-Western propaganda. However, the attack on Thursday in Barcelona indicates that all these measures are not enough.

Writes that the attack in Barcelona continues a series of terrorist attacks using vehicles. The largest terrorist attack of its kind was in France, in Nice, where a truck crashed into a crowd of people walking on Bastille Day (July 14, 2016), killing at least 84 people. After that, on December 19, there was a similar attack on the Christmas market in Berlin. Then 12 people died and more than 50 were injured. This attack was one of the largest in Germany.

Screenshot of Instagram video

On March 22, 2016, five people were killed and more than 50 were injured when a car crashed into a stream of passengers on Westminster Bridge in London. On April 7, a truck crashed into a crowd in the center of Stockholm, killing four. On June 3, there was another similar terrorist attack in London, this time on London Bridge (8 dead, dozens injured). On June 19, also in London, a car hit a group of people near a mosque (one was killed, ten more were injured). On August 9, in the suburbs of Paris, a car attacked a group of patrolmen, as a result of which three were injured.

He writes that the use of vehicles in terrorist attacks is bad not only because it makes it difficult to prevent such cases, but also because it contributes to whipping up panic. By using a conventional vehicle rather than a specially crafted device as the murder weapon, it undermines the general feeling of safety based on the expectation that drivers on the street are at least trying to obey the rules of the road. The effect is enhanced by the fact that such attacks are spontaneous and can be organized anywhere.

The author also considered it necessary to stipulate that when under the influence of this kind of fear in society, the alienation of citizens among themselves grows, and they begin to sympathize with authoritarian politics, ready to sacrifice their civil liberties for the sake of security. In conclusion, the author notes that the latest wave of terrorist attacks in Europe has already begun to affect the structure of cities. This is manifested in the increase in the number of fences and barriers designed to protect people from attack by ordinary objects.

The news of the last minutes - the car hit three police officers in Barcelona. It is not yet clear whether this has anything to do with the terrorist act committed earlier in one of the most popular cities in Europe, including among our compatriots.

According to the latest information, the driver of the van was detained, who crashed into people in the tourist center itself, on the Rambla pedestrian street. Very different data on the dead - from one to 13. More than 30 injured. They say that there may be almost 60. Hospitals are urgently looking for blood donors. Police say a second terrorist van has also been found. Central metro stations are closed.

The first minutes after the tragedy. A few policemen disperse cars. Passers-by, tourists mostly waiting for ambulances, provide first aid to the wounded. Reports on the number of injured and killed are still contradictory. More than 10 people were killed, the source of the Spanish radio Cadena Sir reports 13 killed. There are at least more than three dozen injured, some of them seriously injured, so the death toll may rise.

Not even an hour after the attack, when the Spanish security forces will call what happened a terrorist attack. The script, as if by blueprint, repeats the infamous events in Nice and London. The minibus picked up speed, according to eyewitnesses, about 80 kilometers per hour, jumped out of the roadway onto the pedestrian one. I tried to knock down as many pedestrians as possible, crushing people on the go until I crashed into a kiosk.

The place and moment chosen for the attack implied the maximum number of victims - the main tourist street of Barcelona, ​​La Rambla, the peak of the tourist season. Among those who were literally a few meters from the terrorists' van were Russians.

“We were in the center of Barcelona, ​​everyone started running. We went out into the street, there were police, an ambulance. Nobody understood what was happening. It was 10-15 meters from us. We left, they still let people through, now they don’t let them in, ”said Tatyana Kurbatova.

A chain wave of panic quickly spread to the narrow streets of the central historical quarters of the Catalan capital.

“I work nearby. I was walking home from the store - I see people running away, the police drive in cars on the Rambla, where people should go. Restaurants, I look, the blinds are already lowered, people are already sitting there scared inside,” said Vladimir Fazleev.

Following a car attack in the center of Barcelona, ​​there are pops, like gunshots. News agencies report a shootout in the famous Boqueria market, which is located a step away from where the van stopped. According to some media reports, the terrorists settled in a Turkish restaurant and took hostages. Sounds like you can hear gunshots from there. The police are preparing to storm.

And judging by the shots taken from the windows of the residents of the center of Barcelona, ​​​​the police are combing the streets, not fully understanding the number and location of the terrorists themselves.

It is known for sure that one attacker managed to escape, the police were looking for a man 170 centimeters tall in a white shirt with blue stripes, now he has already been detained. According to El Pais, his name is Driss Oukabir. An alleged photo of him has already been published on the Web.

The security forces were also looking for a pickup truck in which the criminal or criminals fled. According to newspaper reports, the car was found 70 kilometers from Barcelona. It is already known that the van was rented in the suburbs of Barcelona, ​​and the alleged terrorist himself is a resident of the city of Ripoll near the French border.

Meanwhile, helicopters are loitering over the city. The center of Barcelona is cordoned off, metro and railway stations are closed.

By the way, a 10-minute walk from the site of the attack and the Central Railway Station. There, on the Central Square, always crowded with tourists, a huge shopping center is being evacuated.

“Many are in panic, many want to leave the center of events, but so far it is impossible to leave from there, only if you run away on foot. Everyone exchanges information from different sources,” said Veronica Lear.

A special operation continues in the center of Barcelona, ​​footage of the arrest, perhaps just one of the terrorists, has already appeared, the Spanish police are putting a man in handcuffs into a minibus. At the same time, the Barcelona police are urging citizens to donate blood through social networks - the existing stocks of hospitals may not be enough.

And the Spanish newspaper Periodico has already rushed to report that, according to its data, the US Central Intelligence Agency warned the police of Catalonia about a possible terrorist attack, moreover, on the Rambla, two months ago.

On August 17, a minibus ran into pedestrians on the Ramblas in Barcelona. According to the latest data, 13 people were killed, more than 100 were injured. from the crime scenemanaged to escape

Related materials

During the attack, citizens of 18 countries, mostly foreign tourists, who came to enjoy the sights of the ancient Catalan city, suffered. These are citizens of France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Argentina, Venezuela, Belgium, Australia, Hungary, Peru, Northern Ireland, Greece, Cuba, Macedonia, China, Italy, Romania and Algeria. Spain has declared three days of mourning. It is known that the citizens of Germany, Greece, Belgium died.

According to the Federal Tourism Agency, there is a Russian citizen among the victims. It is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the press service of the Federal Tourism Agency.

“While we are still clarifying the information, so far, according to the situation and crisis center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there is data on one injured citizen of Russia. She received minor injuries, she received medical assistance on the spot, without hospitalization,” said the head of the press service of Rostourism Yevgeny Gaiva.

In turn, TASS was told at the Russian consulate in Barcelona that they did not yet have information about the Russians who were injured in the terrorist attack.

The attack took place on Barcelona's most popular tourist street, the Rambla. The van, having entered the street at a speed of at least 80 kilometers per hour, began to zigzag and crush people at high speed. Before stopping, the car drove 530 meters. The driver managed to escape. It turned out that the van was registered in the name of a certain Driss Ukabir, who, during interrogation by the police, said that his documents had been stolen from him.

Eyewitnesses describe the attacker as a young man of southern appearance, about 25 years old, about 175-180 centimeters tall. His identikit was delivered to all police units in Spain.

Later, the police announced the arrest of two suspects, as well as the discovery of a second car, rented by a group of intruders.

In addition, during the shootout, the police eliminated another suspect in the attack. According to some reports, this is a man who hit the police on Diagonal Avenue in Barcelona some time after the terrorist attack on the Rambla. In the process, two law enforcement officers were injured.

The attack in Barcelona in its own way copies the terrorist attacks carried out over the past year in European cities in crowded places and popular with tourists.

On July 14, 2016, in Nice, a French terrorist inspired by ISIS attacked people on the waterfront of this popular resort. Similar terrorist attacks were repeated in Berlin, Stockholm and London during 2016-2017.

That same evening, in the city of Cambrilla, south of Barcelona, ​​another group of terrorists tried to repeat the Barcelona attack by driving a van into people. Six people were injured, five attackers were killed. Reports of this incident are conflicting.

According to the regional government, the terrorists stumbled upon a patrol and were eliminated during a firefight.

"The alleged terrorists were driving in an Audi A3 and ran into a National Guard patrol, after which shooting began," a regional government official said. "Six civilians and one policeman were injured during the shootout, which took place at midnight local time on the seafront of the resort," Catalan emergency services said on Twitter.

According to RIA Novosti with reference to the air of the 24 Horas TV channel, the terrorists were wearing suicide belts and they tried to repeat the Barcelona attack. The criminals were destroyed when they drove a van into a group of people. Seven people were injured, two of them are in serious condition.

In total, as specified, four terrorists were eliminated, one was wounded. The wounded criminal later died.

The Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Well, Europe is not learning anything. Nothing. Until now, it is believed that for ISIS (a terrorist organization banned almost everywhere) there is some difference whether to operate in England, in France, or somewhere else. And there is no difference. It is only necessary to strengthen security a little in one of the countries - they hit another EU state, which naively believes itself to be safe and sound. And this time the blow fell on Spain.

So. Chronology terrorist attacks in Spain next.

August 17th. Day. Barcelona. On a crowded tourist street Rambla a van drives into the crowd of vacationers. It also zigzags, but at full speed. Nearly 2 blocks away. There were 3 people in the car who attempted to escape from the scene by different routes. As for the victims, 13 people died, more than 100 were injured. Among the victims are citizens of various countries, including Russia (the tourist escaped with a minor injury, she is no longer in danger). The number of deaths could increase as about 15 people are in critical condition.

August 17th. Evening. Alcanar. 160 km from Barcelona. The explosive device claims at least 1 life and injures about 10 people. Among them was a police officer. And this is the second explosion in 2 days.

August 17th. Night. Cambris is a small port town 120 km from Barcelona. A van drives into a group of people, from which terrorists with knives get out and go to cut everyone they see. 7 people were injured, including 1 policeman. But the terrorists were quickly eliminated. Fire to kill - 5 corpses. It's like spring in England. As the subsequent examination showed, the corpses were wearing suicide belts. Only fake ones.

According to the latest data, all three people responsible for terrorist attack in Barcelona. One of them is a native of Morocco, the other is a citizen of Spain. All Muslims, of course.

For all terrorist attacks in spain took charge of ISIS. And we already know for sure that at least 2 criminals were Muslims. Most likely, with all the rest the situation is similar. Peaceful followers of the “religion of good and peace” at some point suddenly start crushing people with rented vans and cutting with knives. That is, no difficulties with weapons and explosives - we just take the simplest option and repeat it many times. And it doesn't matter if the performers survive.

But unlike France, Spain is not going to give up. On the contrary, it was publicly stated that only "People's Unity, Anti-Terrorist Operations and Worldwide Cohesion can stop terrorism." The words are beautiful, but how will it turn out in practice?

And I also wonder where global terrorism will hit next? And there is no doubt that it will strike.