The terror cell behind Thursday’s deadly attack in Barcelona likely planned to use explosives before a suspected bomb factory blew up less than 24 hours before the attack.
A house in the town of Alcanar, about 60 miles outside Barcelona, blew up in a massive explosion Wednesday night. At least one person was killed and six were injured in what was originally believed to be an accidental gas explosion.
Police are now investigating whether the explosion was linked to Thursday’s attack, which killed 14 and wounded more than 100. Around 20 canisters of butane and propane gas were discovered in the remains of the house, leading investigators to believe the house was used as a bomb factory for the cell.
“I WAS HAVING DINNER WITH SOME FRIENDS WHEN WE FELT A MASSIVE BOOM – THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE WINDOWS SHATTERED,” ELLIANE FERNANDEZ, A WOMAN WHO LIVED CLOSE TO THE HOUSE, TOLD THE TELEGRAPH. “I CALLED OUT FOR MY HUSBAND, WHO WAS INJURED IN THE HEAD AND TAKEN TO HOSPITAL, AND A COUSIN WAS ALSO INJURED. THE REST HAD CUTS, LIGHT INJURIES.”
THE EXPLOSION COULD HAVE STRESSED THE TERRORISTS TO MOVE UP PLANS FOR THE VAN ATTACK WITHOUT USING GAS CANISTERS. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE A CELL OF BETWEEN EIGHT AND 12 PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ATTACKS. THREE SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND SEVERAL HAVE BEEN SHOT DEAD BY POLICE BUT THE VAN DRIVER REMAINS AT LARGE AS OF FRIDAY MORNING.
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