A home gas blast led to 2 deadly attacks, manhunt in Spain

BARCELONA, Spain – A gas explosion initially misconstrued as a domestic accident led to two days of bloodshed and a manhunt in Spain, authorities have said. Here is how the attacks unfolded:

Wednesday, Aug. 16:

11:20 p.m. An explosion rocks a home in Alcanar. Authorities believe at first that it is simply a home gas explosion but later realize that the building is packed with butane canisters. One person was killed.

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Thursday, Aug. 17:

5:30 p.m. A white van veers onto Barcelona’s Las Ramblas promenade and mows down pedestrians, zig-zagging down the crowded strip. Thirteen people died.

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Friday, Aug. 18:

1:15 a.m. Police in the popular seaside resort of Cambrils fatally shot five people near the boardwalk who had plowed into a group of tourists and locals with their blue Audi 3. Catalonia’s interior minister said they wore fake bomb belts. One woman died of her injuries.