Driss Oukabir: Police arrest man linked to Barcelona attack after 13 die in van terror incident

Driss Oukabir is reported to have lived around 80 miles north of Barcelona: EPA
Driss Oukabir is reported to have lived around 80 miles north of Barcelona: EPA

Spanish police have arrested a suspect in connection with the terrorist attack in Barcelona.

Driss Oukabir, who is reported to be 28, is alleged to have rented the van used in the attack that left at least 13 people dead and dozens more injured.

He denies being involved in the attack and says his younger brother, 18-year old Moussa Oukabir, stole his identification in order to rent the van.

Oukabir was born in the Moroccan town of Aghbala and later moved to Marseille, according to local media reports. His Facebook page, which has now been taken down, said he lived in the Catalan town of Ripoli, around 80 miles north of Barcelona.

He reportedly spent time in prison in the Catalan city of Figueres before being released in 2012.

Security sources told El Pais that Oukabir had recently visited Morocco and arrived back in Barcelona on 13 August.

Police are also reported to be searching for a White Ford Focus that jumped a police checkpoint, running over two officers.

Some reports suggested the vehicle had been involved in a firefight with police.