Barcelona terror: Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly attack
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Barcelona terror attack that left 16 dead and more than 100 injured.
On Thursday afternoon, a van believed to be travelling at 80 km/h ploughed through crowds at the popular tourist district, Las Ramblas.
Suspect Driss Oukabir, 28, was arrested by police and is believed to have rented the white Fiat van used in the attack on the pedestrians.
Shortly after, IS said its "soldiers" were responsible for carrying out the killing.
“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,” the group’s Amaq propaganda news agency said.
More than 80 people were hospitalised after the terror attack and Spanish police confirmed they had arrested two suspects.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed Australians had been caught up in the attack and one woman from NSW is in hospital in a "serious but stable condition."
"Two young Australian men have advised us that they were directly affected, they have gone back to their hotel and will seek medical treatment in the morning," she said.
Barcelona terror: 13 dead, over 100 injured in van attack on Las Ramblas tourist strip
Barcelona terror: NSW woman in serious condition after attack on Las Ramblas
Witnesses said there were horrific screams as the vehicle drove through the crowds and left a "tangle of bodies," The Guardian reported.
"It’s tragic, I saw people on the ground who had been run over and other people running and crying," hotel worker Rebeca said.
"The van drove down the centre running over everyone."
Spain has been on a security alert one step below the maximum since June 2015 following attacks elsewhere in Europe and Africa.
Cars, trucks and vans have been the weapon of choice in multiple extremist attacks in Europe in the last year.
