The number of operations carried out against jihadists has increased significantly since Spain raised its terror alert level to four out of five in June 2015, meaning there is a "high risk" of a terror attack.

Before these attacks, 51 suspected jihadists had already been detained in the country this year, while 69 were detained last year, and 75 were detained in 2015, according to statistics, external reported by the El Pais newspaper.

Security and surveillance was stepped up in the wake of truck attacks in the French city of Nice in July 2016 and the German capital Berlin in December.

Eight of the people who are in hospital because of their injuries are in a "very serious" condition, Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has said.

Barcelona's football club have tweeted this picture of the squad with the hashtag "We are all Barcelona".

Spanish newspaper El Pais is reporting that the attackers in Barcelona and Cambrils were part of a cell of 12 people, external.

Holby City actress Laila Rouass hid in a restaurant freezer as the attack in Barcelona unfolded.

The partner of snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan was in the Spanish city when terrorists killed 13 people and injured dozens.

She wrote on Twitter: "In the middle of the attack. Hiding in a restaurant freezer. Happened so fast. Praying for the safety of everyone here x"

She later added: "Gunshots just heard. Armed police running down the street looking for someone," and shared video of a helicopter flying overhead.

She continued to update her 22,000 followers on the unfolding situation before thanking hotel staff for "staying calm and keeping us safe".

Reuters

The Barcelona attackers planned to use gas canisters in Thursday's attack, Reuters is reporting, citing a judicial source and Catalan government official Joaquim Forn.

Mr Forn told local radio on Friday: "The priority right now is work out the identity of these people, to prove and show the relationship between the different people involved, those that took the van and those that have been able to escape."

Spanish media say the authorities' search has focused in on Moussa Oukabir, who is thought to be the driver of the van which killed 13 people in Barcelona.

El Mundo report that the 17-year-old is the "main suspect, external".

He is the brother of Driss Oukabir - one of those arrested in Ripoll.

The white van used in the attack was hired using Driss Oukabir's documents. .

Image source, Reuters

Haizea Artabe said she was shocked such an attack could happen in a place like Cambrils.

"This is a really quiet place, here you come with your family, to enjoy.

"Salou is near here and that is where all the partying is and so you would think it's more likely there.

"But here in Cambrils I would never have thought it would happen."

Joan Marc witnessed the attack in the seaside town.

He said: "I suddenly heard 'pam pam pam pam pam' there in the port and after the 'pam pam pam' people screaming and then police screaming more.

"I was so nervous, I didn't know where to hide. Finally I had to jump to the beach and I had to hide there.

"The only thing I have seen has been people running away like 'God, we are going to die'."

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, Getty Images

Terrorism does not choose its enemies randomly and this time it chose a city which like none other represents the spirit of an open, democratic and diverse environment, says centre-left daily El Pais, external.

But centre-right daily El Mundo notes that fundamentalism and extremism have a presence in Catalonia, external.

“There, the processes of radicalisation flow more rapidly, making it the first place in Spain where the Islamic State can mobilise.”

El Pais notes that the attack coincides with “the moment of maximum political confusion” in Catalonia and calls on regional and national authorities for unity. “It is time to end the democratic nonsense,” the daily says.

Catalonia is planning to hold a referendum on independence from Spain on 1 October. Madrid is opposed to secession, and argues that the referendum is unconstitutional.

Barcelona’s La Vanguardia calls for another kind of unity, external. It says it is necessary to continue military operations against IS and “reinforce the unity and cooperation of all the European countries to counter a terrorist threat”.

Image source, BBC Monitoring

Image source, AFP

Glasgow University rector Aamer Anwar was caught up in the aftermath of the "horrific" terrorist attack in Barcelona.

Catalonia's police force has said extra security checks will be in place around the area of Plaça de Catalunya - the large square in central Barcelona.

They advise the public to access the area on foot and not to wear large backpacks or bags.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Iraq described the attack as a “desperate attempt” by so-called Islamic State “to prove its existence after the defeat it has suffered in Iraq”.

Egypt expressed solidarity with the Spanish government and people "against terror groups”, and Kuwait stressed its support for "any measures Spain would take to preserve security”.

King Abdullah II of Jordan said that his country "supports Spain in these difficult circumstances” and is committed to confronting terrorism.

Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Saudi Arabia and the Arab League have also denounced the attack.

Several Arabic-language newspapers highlight Barcelona, carrying headlines condemning it and showing photos from the scene.

“Black Thursday in Barcelona" is the main headline of the London-based Al-Hayat.

Jordan's pro-government Al-Dustour describes the attack as a “heinous crime”.

In a report, Saudi-funded Al-Sharq al-Awast says: “Spain has been a target for terrorism for a long time.”

Image source, Al Jazeera TV

Reuters

The explosive belts worn by attackers killed by police in the Catalan resort town of Cambrils were fake, the Spanish region's head Carles Puigdemont has told a local radio station.

Four of the attackers were shot dead at the scene and a fifth died later of his injuries.

Mr Puigdemont said bomb experts had now confirmed the explosive belts were duds.

Image source, AFP/Getty

Here's what we know after two attacks in Spain's Catalonia region.

Image source, El Pais

Spanish newspaper, El Pais, external, has mapped the events as they happened on Thursday night.

At 16:50 (14:50 GMT) a white Fiat van drives down Las Ramblas in central Barcelona, killing 13 people and injuring scores. The driver flees on foot

At18:30 police find a second van, thought to be a getaway vehicle, in the town of Vic, 80km north of Barcelona

A Moroccan man, Driss Oukabir, is later arrested in Ripoll. His documents were used to rent the Fiat.

In Cambrils, Friday 01:00: Police stop a second vehicle attack in the resort south of Barcelona, killing five terrorist suspects said to be linked to the Las Ramblas attack

Read more from the BBC here

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Fitzroy Davies, from Wolverhampton, is staying in Cambrils.

He told Radio 4’s Today programme he was sat in a bar when he saw people running past.

"This guy came running up the road and was shouting. Within 30 seconds the police were there.

"They jumped out the car and started shouting at the guy. The guy was saying something else again.

"[The police] did a couple of shots. He fell down then stood back up. He stepped over the fence and was like taunting and smiling, and he carried on walking toward the police.

"They gave it to him again, a couple more shots, and he fell to the ground. That's when I decided to go."

Mr Davies said the man was wearing something which could have been a bomb vest, but added that he was not certain what it was exactly.

Reuters

French interior minister Gérard Collomb has said he does not believe there are any French links to the suspects in the Barcelona attack.

He also said as many as 17 French citizens might be in a serious condition as a result of the attack, revising upwards the French government's earlier statement that 11 were seriously injured.

The French foreign ministry earlier said 26 of its citizens were injured in the attack.