Alwaght- ISIS terrorist group has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed at least 13 and left over 100 injured after a van rammed through crowds in the Spanish city of Barcelona on Thursday.
Catalan region interior ministry official, Joaquim Forn, confirmed the death toll.
A white van smashed into a crowd on the famous La Rambla, a street popular with tourists visiting the city.
After the deadly attack, ISIS' media wing, Amaq, said the perpetrators of the Barcelona attack were its militants. The statement provided no further details about the attackers.
Spain is on edge after the driver of the van escaped as police announced that four terrorists were killed early Friday in Cambrils and a fifth person is in police custody. Authorities said there is an ongoing police operation, but the situation is under control.
The van thought to have been used in the attackSpanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy spoke of his grief and offered condolences to the families of the victims.
"I want to also express my solidarity with all of Spain to the city of Barcelona," Rajoy said
ISIS terrorist group has issued detailed guidance to its followers on how to commit massacres using lorries, vans and cars, as well as instructions on launching stabbings, bombings and taking hostages.
The latest terrorist incident in Spain mirrors multiple assaults carried out by ISIS across Europe especially in France, Germany and Britain.
There have been no previous terror attacks claimed by Isis in Spain, where almost 200 people were killed by al-Qaeda inspired terrorists in the Madrid bombings in 2004.
Last month Interpol warned that at least 170 suspected ISIS terrorists trained to deal with explosives and are potentially aiming at launching attacks in Europe. Interpol provided EU intelligence agencies with a list of 173 terrorists linked to ISIS, who “may have manifested willingness to commit a suicidal attack.”
Security officials in Europe have expressed concern about the return of the continent’s citizens who went to fight for ISIS, following an expected defeat of the group in Iraq and Syria.
