ISIS terror cell behind Barcelona terror attacks ‘had just returned from Syria and had Plan A, B and C’

The terrorists who killed 14 people and injured at least 130 others in twin attacks in Spain may have spent time in Syria and had two other chilling plans, it was claimed.

Investigators believe the jihadists who ploughed into pedestrians in Barcelona and the seaside town of Cambrils were part of a well-organised terror cell with about 12 members.

It was claimed that the terrorists had come up with three terrifying plans to kill people in the streets, but only decided on mowing down pedestrians after plans A and B fell through.

They were unable to hire a large truck due to missing paperwork and then failed to rig a smaller vehicle with explosives, forcing them to resort to plan C.

The terror cell’s members are said to be of Moroccan origin, and some may have recently returned from Syria, the Cadena SER radio network reported, citing unnamed sources.

ISIS claimed responsibility after a rented van was used to mow down pedestrians on the famous Las Ramblas promenade in central Barcelona, killing 13.

Hours later, a car occupied by five terrorists ploughed into pedestrians in Cambrils, killing a woman and injuring six other people, including a policeman. The attackers were shot dead by police.

The attacks have been linked to a blast that destroyed a house, which was filled with gas canisters, in Alcanar, killing a woman and injuring several other people.

New York Times correspondent Rukmini Callimachi, who has written extensively about ISIS, said the terrorists had come up with three plans before launching their massacre.

She wrote on Twitter that plan A was to hire a large truck, fill it with explosives and crash, causing a “catastrophic explosion”.

But that plan failed when the would-be driver failed to provide the necessary permit to the rental firm.

They then turned to plan B, which was to load two smaller vans with bombs. But that plan failed as well because the terrorists didn’t know how to prep the explosives, said Ms Callimachi.

Instead, they blew up the house in Alcanar, she added.

The terror cell was then forced to turn to plan C, using two smaller vehicles to ram into pedestrians, Ms Callimachi wrote.

Source: Mirror