Major anti‑terrorism operation underway after van plowed into crowds in Spain

A major anti‑terrorism operation was underway in Spain yesterday after a van plowed into crowds on Barcelona's La Rambla tourist hot spot killing 13 people and wounding more than 100, before a car hit several people in a resort further down the Spanish coast, killing one woman.

As security forces hunted the Barcelona van's driver, who was seen escaping on foot, six people and a police officer were run down by a car in a separate attack eight hours later in Cambrils, a town south of the city.

Police shot dead five of the Cambrils attackers, who were wearing fake suicide belts. One woman hit in the second attack died of her injuries.

Both attacks were also related to an explosion on Wednesday at a third location in a province about 100 miles southwest of Barcelona that left one person dead.

Four suspects have been detained in separate arrests across the region.