Cops hunt missing middle-aged imam they fear masterminded Las Ramblas rampage – as mum of van ‘driver’ who killed 13 urges jihadi son to hand himself in
AN ISLAMIC preacher is being investigated for his possible role as the mastermind of the Barcelona massacre as police reveal they are still hunting three jihadis.
Spanish authorities have said they have dismantled the network of 12 terrorists, confirming they now know the identities of two bodies found in the Alcanar home that exploded as the group plotted their attacks.
The home of suspected mastermind Abdelbaki Es Satty has been searched in the wake of the two separate attacks last week, with the 45-year-old one of three still missing.
The imam had begun preaching in Ripoll around two years ago but stopped two months ago, sources at the town’s mosque said.
Police sources told Spanish media he followed the fundamentalist Salafi branch of Islam.
Detectives were said to be investigating whether he radicalised the young men who planned and carried out the atrocity on Thursday afternoon.
Es Satty’s flatmate, named only as Nodir, said the preacher had left home on Tuesday “because he was leaving for Morocco”.
Nodir has heard nothing from him since.
Police sources told El Mundo newspaper Es Satty's age and profile suggested he might be the leader of the terror cell.
The Mossos d’Esquadra would not comment on that claim.
Police are now searching for three suspects still missing - announcing on Sunday they were unsure if the wanted men were still in Spain.
Catalan police have focused their investigation on finding suspected driver 22-year-old Younes Abouyaqoub, 45-year-old mastermind, Iman Abdelbaki Es Sattyand and Youssef Aalla, brother of one of the terrorists shot in Cambrils.
Police are now carrying out DNA tests to see if any of the bodies in the rubble of the Alcanar home belong to the three men.
"I don't want them [the cell] to kill others, that's not what Islam says."
Police have poured resources into investigating the two attacks where a group of fanatics massacred 14 people and injured 130 more when vehicles were ploughed into crowds on Barcelona's famous Las Ramblas and a tourist resort Cambrils.
A Catalan government minister said the cell responsible had been "dismantled".
Five terrorists were shot dead in the wake of the Cambrils attack, with four people arrested including in Ripoll.
The names of three of the five suspects shot down by police have been revealed as being Said Aallaa, Mohamed Hychami and Moussa Oukabir - the baby-faced "jihadi" whose older brother Driss accused him of stealing his ID to hire the van that mowed down crowds was killed.
The group are thought to be known as the Tarragona Cell, a gang of jihadis who have recently returned from Syria.
When asked by one user: "On your first day as absolute king of the world, what would you do?", Moussa replied: "Kill the infidels and leave only Muslims who follow the religion."
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
- At 5pm on Thursday, a white Fiat van ploughed into a crowd in tourist hotspot Las Ramblas in Barcelona
- At least 13 people were killed and 130 more injured as the driver mowed down innocents along a 500m stretch of the packed pedestrian area
- A total of 54 people are still in hospital. 12 are in a critical condition and 24 others are in a serious condition
- The driver then fled the carnage on foot and a manhunt was launched
- Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the van attack was a result of 'jihadist terrorism' and ISIS has since claimed responsibility
- At least four men with no background in terrorism have been arrested in connection with the attack including Driss Oukabir - a 28-year-old Moroccan who is believed to have rented the van. His brother Moussa Oukabir, 17, stole his ID and is suspected to be the van driver
- Victims are from 34 countries. A seven-year-old British boy was confirmed on Sunday to have died in the atrocity
- Eight hours later, one person was killed and seven injured after five terrorists carry out second terror attack in Cambrils - 68 miles from Barcelona
- Jihadists wearing fake suicide vests rammed an Audi A3 into pedestrians and were shot dead by police when the car flipped
- One of the five terrorists, who were armed with knives and axes, killed in Cambrils could have been the driver of the van which killed 13 people in Barcelona
- Officials are linking the attacks with an explosion that killed one person at a house 124 miles away from Las Ramblas on Wednesday as it emerges the terrorists could have been part of a cell involving 12 to 15 people
- Police said they arrested two more people, after an initial two were arrested Thursday.
Spain's interior minister has said there is no imminent threat of attack on the country.
"There were a lot people, lots of families [at the site], this is one of the most visited sites in Barcelona.
"I think several people were hit. It was horrible, there was panic. Terrible."
Barcelona FC wrote in a statement: "Our hearts are made smaller by this attack. Sending strength and love to the victims, their families and the citizens of Barcelona".
A local festival planned for last night was cancelled in response to the slaughter.
Ada Colau, the President of Catalonia, the autonomous Spanish state where Barcelona is the capital, has cancelled her holiday and is returning to the city.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the van attack was "jihadist terrorism" which required a global response.
He told a news conference in Barcelona on Friday: "Today the fight against terrorism is the principal priority for free and open societies like ours. It is a global threat and the response has to be global."
The prime minister says the residents of Paris, Nice, Brussels, Berlin and London "have experienced the same pain and uncertainty that those of Barcelona suffer today.";
In a written statement, British Prime Minister Theresa May said: "I am sickened by the senseless loss of life in Barcelona today.
"The Foreign Office is working to establish if any British nationals were involved in this appalling incident and we are in close contact with the authorities in Spain, who have our full support.
"Following the attacks in Manchester and London, Spain stood alongside the British people. Tonight, Britain stands with Spain against the evil of terrorism."
President Donald Trump tweeted: "The United States condemns the terror attack in Barcelona, Spain, and will do whatever is necessary to help. Be tough & strong, we love you!"
Vehicle attacks since last summer
VEHICLES have become the weapon of choice for terrorists in Europe with automotive violence striking several countries since last summer.
Stretching from the Mediterranean to Scanidnavia innocents have been mown down in the streets as the vile attacks sweep the continent.
Since last summer there have been vehicle attacks in:
- Nice - 14 July 2016
- Berlin - 19 December 2016
- London - 22 March 2017 (Westminster Bridge) 3 June 2017 (London Bridge)
- Stockholm - 7 April 2017
- Barcelona - August 17
Did you see what happened in Barcelona? Are you in the Las Ramblas area now? Please get in touch with us on 0207 782 4397 or email neal.baker@the-sun.co.uk