Barcelona terrorist cell planned much bigger attack using explosives, suspect tells court

An alleged member of an Islamist cell suspected of carrying out last week’s deadly Barcelona van attack has told a Spanish court that the group had been planning a much bigger strike using explosives, a judicial source says.

Key points:

• Suspects questioned one-by-one, no specific charges laid yet
• Two suspects say an imam was the instigator of the attacks
• Local media reports the alleged Islamist cell was planning attack on major landmarks

The testimony to a closed hearing at Spain’s High Court came from Mohamed Houli Chemlal, one of four detained suspects brought to Madrid to testify for the first time in court about the plot.

The judge ordered two of the four suspects, Chemlal and Driss Oukabir, to jail charged with membership of a terrorist organisation and murder, according to the court ruling.

A third suspect, Salh El Karib, who ran an internet cafe in the town of Ripoll where most of the 12 suspects lived, will remain in police custody pending further investigation.

The fourth suspect, Mohamed Aalla, 27, owner of the Audi car used in the Cambrils attack, will be released on certain conditions.

Source: Barcelona terrorist cell planned much bigger attack using explosives, suspect tells court – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)