Spanish police shoot man dead in suspected terror attack

A man pleaded to be let into a locked police station in Barcelona before dawn Monday, then lunged with a knife at officers inside. Police shot him dead and the attack is being investigated for any links to terror, authorities said.

Commissioner Rafel Comes, the second-in-command of the Catalan regional police, told reporters that police are treating it as a terrorist attack “for the moment” because the incident was “extremely serious,” involving a “premeditated” attack that intended to kill police.

The man shouted “Allah” and other words that police officers did not understand, Comes said, adding that Spanish intelligence services are helping with the investigation.

But he added that police have found no evidence linking the incident to terror attacks in August 2017 in Barcelona and nearby Cambrils, which killed 16 people.

Officers opened a locked police station security door to the man, who lived in a nearby apartment, Comes said. The police station is located in the Cornella district on the outskirts of the city.

He said the suspect repeatedly pressed the buzzer to be let in around 5.45 a.m. and spoke with officers inside over an intercom. After they decided to let him in, he pulled out “a large knife” and lunged at officers, according to Comes.

The man had identification documents on him and police are checking whether they are authentic.

Police are investigating the man’s background and awaiting a warrant to search his apartment.