TerrorismAt least 13 killed, dozens injured in a terrorist attack in Barcelona, Spain

At least thirteen people were killed and scores injured when a terrorist drove a rented van into a crowded sidewalk in one of Barcelona’s busiest streets.

The attack took place early evening Spain’s time (mid-day EST).

“Huge collision on Las Ramblas in Barcelona by an individual driving a van, many injuries,” a statement from Catalan police said.

The police cordoned off the area, and dozens of ambulances and police vehicles converged on the scene.

Police used megaphones mounted on police vehicles to instruct down-town shoppers and people who were leaving their offices that they were dealing with a “terrorist attack.”

El Paisr eports that the famous Las Ramblas boulevard is normally thronged with tourists and street performers until well into the night.

In March 2004 Spain was hit by the deadliest jihadist attack in Europe, when bombs exploded on commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people. Al Qaeda took responsibility for the attack, saying it was in retaliation for Spain joining the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

ISIS and its followers have been relying on vans and truck in several terror attacks in Europe in recent years.

The most recent terrorist attack in Spain took place in July 2015, when a hooded attacker opened fire outside a hotel in downtown Barcelona near Las Ramblas, injuring two people.

Spain, the world’s third largest tourism destination, has recently emerged as a potential target for jihadist terrorists, whose websites referring to the fact that much of Spain’s territory was once under Muslim rule.

El Pais quotes Spanish authorities to say that more than 180 “jihadist terrorists” have been arrested since June 2015, most of them on charges of conduction propaganda and recruitment efforts on behalf of terrorist organizations.