La Rambla attacker shot dead in police operation

The suspect was taking shelter in central Catalan village

The Catalan police operation in Subirats (by Jordi Pujolar)
The Catalan police operation in Subirats (by Jordi Pujolar) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

August 21, 2017 05:17 PM

Younes Abouyaaquob was shot dead on Monday evening after a police operation related to the terrorist attacks of last week in Catalonia, the police informed. The confirmed van driver in la Rambla was wearing what seems to be an explosive belt when taken down, ACN learned. Officers specialized in explosives are at the site and have already taken the belt off the corpse.

The events took place in Subirats, near the central Catalan town of Vilafranca del Penedès. The Catalan police's official Twitter profile, @Mossos, warned that an operation had begun at 4.10pm CEST, and at 5.05pm CEST the same profile confirmed that the suspect was killed. At 6.20pm, the police said through the same social network that that this person is Younes Abouyaaqoub.