Madrid - A van attack that killed at least 13 people in Barcelona city centre has been linked to an explosion 100 miles away. One person was killed in the explosion in the tourist district of Alcanar, about 100 miles (160km) southwest of Barcelona, in the early hours of Thursday - hours before a van attack killed at least 13 people in Barcelona city centre. TV3 reported that the house blast, in the village of Alcanar Platja, also injured seven people, including some foreigners from France, Italy and Morocco. Police have since said they suspect those in the house were "preparing an explosive device". Hours after the van attack in Barcelona, Catalan police said they shot and killed five suspects in response to another terrorist attack in the seaside resort town of Cambrilas. Catalan authorities say the attacks are linked. In the Barcelona attack, a white van mounted the pavement of Las Ramblas, the main tourist area in the city, and struck dozens of people on Thursday afternoon. Catalan authorities have confirmed that at least 13 people have died and more than 100 have been injured but said the number of dead could rise. Police said they have arrested two people over the attack but they are still hunting the driver of the vehicle, who is said to have fled on foot. Senior police official Josep Lluis Trapero said, although two are being held "that doesn't mean that either were the author of the attack". Islamic State said it was responsible, according to the Amaq news agency and Spain's Prime Minister described it as a "jihadist attack". A statement put out by Amaq said: "The perpetrators of the Barcelona attack are soldiers of the Islamic State and carried out the operation in response to calls for targeting coalition states."
