A man driving a white van down the famous Barcelona pedestrian walkway known as Las Ramblas killed at least 13 people and injured approximately 120 others on Thursday afternoon.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called it a “jihadist” terror attack, while ISIS claimed responsibility.

There was another fatality -- taking the overall death toll to 14 -- in a vehicular attack in the popular seaside town of Cambrils, about 100 kilometres southwest of Barcelona. A senior official with Catalonia’s regional police says investigators believe the two attacks were connected with an explosion in a house in the town of Alcanar on Wednesday, in which one person was killed.

Spanish authorities believe the attacks were prepared some time ago. They said the attacks could have been far more deadly if not for what they believe was an accidental explosion at the house in Alcanar.

What we know about the suspects:

  • Four people have been arrested in total.
  • Spanish media have identified the van's suspected driver as 17-year-old Moussa Oukabir. The Barcelona van driver was seen fleeing on foot from the scene and has not been arrested. Police have searched the teenager’s family’s apartment.
  • The Barcelona van driver was seen fleeing on foot from the scene and has not been arrested. Police intensified their manhunt for an unknown number of suspects still on the loose Friday.
  • Police said they arrested two more people Friday, after an initial two were arrested Thursday -- three Moroccans and one Spaniard, none with terrorism-related records. Three of them were nabbed in the northern town of Ripoll. Another arrest was made in Alcanar.
  • An official with a union for Spain's Civil Guard police force said a court issued an order for the arrest of four suspects in connection with the attacks. One suspect was born in Spain and has Moroccan citizenship, and the other three were Moroccans with Spanish residency, according to a document verified by the official. The list included Moussa Oukabir, who is believed to be a brother of one of those arrested for the attacks and possibly the Barcelona van driver.
  • Police say that the five suspects shot and killed in Cambrils were carrying fake bomb belts.
  • Attack in Barcelona linked to similar style of attack in Cambrils, which was thwarted by police. Police said they fatally shot five people who struck tourists and locals with a car, fatally injuring one woman. Catalonia's interior minister said the suspected terrorists wore fake bomb belts.

What we know about the victims:

Local officials say the victims of the two attacks Thursday, include men, women, and children from at least 34 nations.

  • Spain’s civil protection agency says 120 people were injured in the Barcelona attack, and six in Cambrils. Sixty-one people remain hospitalized, including 17 in critical condition and 25 in serious condition, as a result of the attack in Barcelona.
  • A Canadian is among the dead or injured in Barcelona, the Government of Catalonia has stated.
  • The U.S. State Department said at least one American was killed and one was injured.
  • Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said one Belgian national had been killed in the attack. Belgium officials later identified her as Elke Vanbockrijck. Vanbockrijck’s two sons, aged 10 and 14, and their father, were unhurt.
  • The French Foreign Ministry said 26 French citizens were injured, including 11 who were hurt seriously.
  • Italy's premier has released the names of two Italians slain in the Barcelona van attack. Premier Gentiloni tweeted Friday that "Italy remembers Bruno Gulotta and Luca Russo and gathers tight around their families. Freedom will conquer the barbarianism of terrorism."
  • Germany’s Foreign Ministry counted at least 13 Germans among the injured. Spokesperson Martin Schaefer said some were hurt “so seriously that they are still fighting for their lives.”
  • Two Australian women, one travelling on a British passport, were seriously injured. Two Australian men were sent to hospital with injuries and have since been discharged, according to Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
  • Irish government officials said a five-year old Irish boy who was celebrating his birthday suffered a broken leg; his father was also injured.
  • Greece’s foreign ministry said a Greek national is among those injured.
  • The Catalan government said that the Gran Via Palace Hotel has been set up to serve the people affected and that people can call (+34) 900 400 012 for information.

What we know about the threat:

Spain raised its security threat level to one step below the maximum in June 2015, and has arrested more than 200 suspected jihadists in recent years.

Global Affairs Canada advised Canadians to avoid the Las Ramblas tourist area.

With files from The Associated Press