Barcelona Terror Suspects Convicted For Up To 50 Years

Spain’s National Court has convicted three Islamic terrorists with prison sentences from 8 to 53 years for their role in the attacks Barcelona and Cambrils attacks that killed 16 people  and injured more than 140 in August 2017.

The court convicted the three of being part of a terror cell or aiding it, but not of directly carrying out the attacks.

The three men were Mohamed Houli, sentenced to  to 53 years and six months, Driss Oukabir, sentenced to 46 years and Said Ben Iazza who was sentenced to 8 years for his lesser collaboration with the group.

Most of the victims of the attack were in Barcelona’s famous La Rambla, when a van was driven at speed by Younes Abouyaaqouh cut through the holiday and tourist crowding the busy pedestrianised street.

After abandoning the vehicle and escaping he was tracked down and shot dead in a police operation four days later.

Two other terrorist gang members, including a Muslim cleric, who is believed to have been the ringleader, died when their explosives went off before the attacks at their house in the Alcanar district near Barcelona.

A total of six were shot and killed by police marksmen.

The court heard that the cell had been planning other large scale attacks including at the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Camp Nou football stadium in Barcelona.

The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for their actions.