ISIL claims responsibility for van attack in Barcelona

International Desk: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has claimed responsibility for a deadly van-ramming attack in one of Barcelona's busiest tourist areas.

At least 13 people were killed and 100 injured after a suspect ploughed a white van into a crowd at around 5pm local time (15:00 GMT) on Thursday in the bustling Las Ramblas area, a 1.2-kilometre stretch of shops and restaurants usually heaving with tourists.

Spanish police said the suspected driver was still on the run and that they had arrested two other people in connection with the attack. Police cordons had been set up around the city.

"The executors of the Barcelona attack were soldiers of the Islamic State," ISIL's Amaq outlet said on its Telegram messenger account, without naming those it claimed were behind the attack.

Amaq said ISIL had launched the attack in response to calls to target states taking part in the United States-led coalition battling the group in Iraq and Syria.

ISIL, also known as ISIS, has claimed several similar attacks in Europe over the past year.

Police described Thursday's violence as a "terrorist attack".

El Pais newspaper said the driver of the vehicle had fled on foot after the attack.

It was still unclear how many attackers had been involved in the incident.

Source: Agencies



risingbd/Aug 18, 2017/Mukul