Sydney boy Julian Cadman died in Barcelona terror attacks as police investigations continue
POLICE have released a new image of the wanted Barcelona terrorist as his mother pleads for him to surrender and tributes flow for Julian Cadman.
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THE mother of the jihadi suspected of fleeing to France after he drove a van into innocent people on the Ramblas in Barcelona has begged her son to give himself up.
Ghanno Gaanimi appealed to Younes Abouyaaqoub, 22, Europe’s most wanted man saying: “He must go to the police, he must hand himself in. He is better off in prison than being dead.”
French police have joined the hunt for him after reports that a white Renault Kangoo he rented had crossed the border from Spain.
A manhunt is underway for the man, who is thought to be part of a 12-strong Islamic State terror cell responsible for the attacks.
Spain, which for more than a decade has escaped the scourge of Islamist terror attacks, has maintained its terrorism threat level at the second-highest setting, but will increase security at major events and high-profile sites.
Unlike other public plazas around Europe, and increasingly in Australia, Las Ramblas does not have large bollards and other security devices to stop terrorists using vehicles to attack pedestrians.
MISSING IMAM TERROR MASTERMIND
The news comes after the alleged ringleader of the Spain terror attacks had links to one of the 2004 Madrid bombers and was in Brussels shortly before bombings there last year, according to reports.
Abdelbaki Es Satty is thought to have radicalised the younger members of the cell that attacked Las Ramblas and Cambrils.
The suspected mastermind’s home has been searched in the wake of the two separate attacks last week, with the 45-year-old one of three still missing.
The imam had begun preaching in Ripoll around two years ago but stopped two months ago, sources at the town’s mosque said.
Police sources told Spanish media he followed the fundamentalist Salafi branch of Islam.
Es Satty’s flatmate, named only as Nodir, said the preacher had left home on Tuesday “because he was leaving for Morocco”.
Nodir has heard nothing from him since. It is unclear if he is dead or alive.
Police sources have told Spanish media outlet El Pais that he may have been killed in the gas explosion on one of the terrorists’ homes in Alcanar. The terror cell had 120 butane gas canisters there which they were planning to use in a major terror plot that went wrong after the explosion.
The Times reports that police are also investigating whether he was involved in the Islamic State assaults on Brussels airport and a Metro station that killed 32 people on March 22, 2016.
And according to Sky News officials have said Es Satty did have extremist connections which link him to the Madrid attacks of 2004.
He went to prison five years ago for trafficking hashish from Morocco to Spain, and was locked up alongside Rachid Aglif, jailed for his role in what is Spain’s worst terror attack.
At least 191 people were killed and thousands were injured when an Al-Qaeda-linked terror cell detonated bombs on commuter trains during the morning rush hour.
The Telegraph UK reports the imam may have been radicalised in prison by Aglif, who was serving 18-years for his role in the 2004 bombings, in which 192 people died and more than 2,000 were injured.
Sources in Spain said Es Satty had not been religious prior to going into prison and may have fallen under the influence of Aglif and other terrorists behind bars.
Catalan police official Josep Lluis Trapero told reporters the imam was part of the investigation, but said police had no solid evidence that he was responsible for radicalising the young men in the cell.
Es Satty in June abruptly quit working at a mosque in Ripoll and has not been seen since.
“Don’t criminalise the mosques because the overwhelming majority of them are places of worship. They are places where people pray,” Trapero said.
“In fact, even though there is an imam implicated in the group, it doesn’t mean that the mosque is where they were radicalised.”
One woman who was close to multiple attackers and who heard Es Satty’s sermons said the imam repeatedly preached about jihad and killing infidels. She spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing she would be attacked for speaking out.
“I feel like I could have done something. I feel a little bit guilty now,” she said.
“Everybody knew it. It was an open secret. But I can’t say it because these people are dangerous and they could come after me. I don’t trust anybody now.” Es Satty’s former mosque denounced the deadly attacks, but denied Es Satty was anything other than “a normal imam.”
Hammou Minaj, secretary of the mosque who knew the attackers as well, described Es Satty as an easygoing preacher.
“It’s hard to get an imam. When you get one, you’re always happy,” Minaj said.
The mosque is on a main artery in Ripoll named Progress, occupying an unmarked corner storefront. The Muslim community took the space when it outgrew the town’s other mosque, which held just 40 worshippers. Es Satty preached first at the smaller space and eventually lost his job in late 2015 for reasons that the president, Ali Yassine, did not specify.
Es Satty then left to look for work as an imam in Belgium from January to March 2016, according to Hans Bonte, mayor of the Belgian city of Vilvoorde. Vilvoorde is known for Islamic State recruiting and jihadi activity. Police there contacted the Catalan department of justice and were told Es Satty had no links to extremist violence.
TRIBUTES TO JULIAN CADMAN
Classmates and friends of Sydney seven-year-old Julian Cadman have paid tribute to him after they lost their friend.
Speaking outside St Bernadette’s Primary School, Lalor Park, this morning Karuna Nicodemus said her son Manus played regularly with Julian and was “still not able to understand” what had happened.
“We saw him every day with his grandmother at the bus stop,” Mrs Nicodemus said.
“The children are really upset because it’s very sudden news. They play together; it’s very sad,” she said.
Julian’s football team the Girraween Eagles posted a tribute on Facebook.
“Sadly not the outcome we were hoping for on this and our thoughts are with family and friends and the St Bernadette’s community,” the club wrote.
“Please remember children can react in a range of ways to grief and take note of advice from schools and counselors on ways to discuss this sad news.”
The young boy was formally confirmed as one of the 14 people killed in a terrorist attack in Barcelona, Spain.
The Civil Safety Agency of Catalan confirmed to News Corp that little Julian was deceased.
“We have identified three deceased victims of the attack in Barcelona through DNA, the agency said. “This identification has already been communicated to the families of the deceased.”
The agency Emergencies Catalan also confirmed one Australian-British dual national child, along with one Italian and one Belgian, had been confirmed deceased.
Until now there has been no official advice provided on Julian’s condition or whereabouts since the attack on Thursday, when he and his mother Jumarie “Jom” Cadman were struck as they walked down Barcelona’s Las Ramblas promenade just before 5pm on Thursday evening. He had been listed as unaccounted for.
Jom continues to recover in a Barcelona hospital, while her husband Andrew, who arrived into Barcelona from Sydney on Saturday, is by her side.
Australian and British consular officials are assisting Andrew and Jom Cadman, and several family members have arrived in Barcelona to support them.
Family member Debbie Cadman, from the UK, posted on Facebook to say what the family was experiencing was “beyond words.”
“We appreciate all the prayers and love,” she wrote. “The family has released no information as we wish for privacy. We are receiving incredible support from British and Australian consular officials.”
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the Government was “deeply saddened to confirm” Julian was among those killed.
“We remain in close contact with the family who has requested privacy at this difficult and harrowing time,” she said. “The Australian Government will continue to provide consular assistance to those caught up in the attacks, and their loved ones.”
RELATED: Julian’s dad makes heartbreaking journey to Spain
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also tweeted his condolences to the family.
“The FCO (foreign office), our Australian colleagues and the Spanish authorities continue to do all we can to support his family at this deeply distressing time,” he said.
I send my sincerest sympathies to the family of Julian Cadman and all those who loved him. His death is a tragedy
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) August 20, 2017
The FCO, our Australian colleagues &the Spanish authorities continue to do all we can to support his family at this deeply distressing time
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) August 20, 2017
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade released this statement on behalf of the Cadman family: “Julian was a much loved and adored member of our family. As he was enjoying the sights of Barcelona with his mother, Julian was sadly taken from us.
“He was so energetic, funny and cheeky, always bringing a smile to our faces. We are so blessed to have had him in our lives and will remember his smiles and hold his memory dear to our hearts.
“We would like to thank all those who helped us in searching for Julian. Your kindness was incredible during a difficult time. We also acknowledge we are not the only family to be affected by the events, our prayers and thoughts are with all people affected.
“We will not be making any further comments on this tragedy and ask everyone, especially the media, to give us the privacy we need to grieve away from the public eye.”
Police believe they have now identified 13 of the 14 victims, although not all have been named.
The Catalan Government issued a statement several days ago saying forensic doctors at the Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences at the Department of Justice were working to identify the terror attack victims who had been taken to the Ciudad de la Justicia (City of Justice).
“…They will perform autopsies and other tests to determine their identities,” the statement, in English, read. “The relatives of the mortal victims will be attended by teams of psychologists, social workers, forensic doctors and Mossos (police). The bodies of the foreign victims will be repatriated once identified and with the prior authorisation of the judge.”
Citizens of Spain, Italy, Belgium, the US, Portugal and Canada have been confirmed among the dead.
The Civil Safety Agency of Catalan said that 50 victims remained in hospitals around Barcelona, of which 12 remained in a critical condition. Another 24 had serious injuries, while 11 were less seriously injured and three had minor injuries.
The injured include people from 22 nations — including two from Australia — Ms Cadman, and another Australian woman being treated at a Clinic Hospital, young Sydney bank worker Suria Intan.
SOLEMN MASS FOR TERROR VICTIMS
Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, along with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont and other officials, have attended a solemn Mass at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica for the victims of the terror attacks.
The Mass was celebrated on Sunday by the archbishop of Barcelona, Cardinal Joan Josep Omella.
He called for Spain to unite to work for a more peaceful world after welcoming families of the victims and representatives of Catalonia’s Muslim community. In his homily, he said the presence of so many people was a “beautiful mosaic” of unity to work for a common objective of “peace, respect, fraternal coexistence and love.”
He read aloud a telegram of condolences sent by Pope Francis, who called the attacks a “cruel terrorist act” and a “grave offence to God.”
With its soaring towers, intricate sculptures and stained glass windows, the “Holy Family” church is dedicated to the Christian concept of family and faith. It was begun in 1882 and is not expected to be finished until 2026.
TERROR CELL HAD 120 GAS CANISTERS
A 12-strong terror cell that carried out two attacks in Spain this week had collected 120 gas canisters and was planning to use them in vehicle attacks, Spanish police say.
Canisters were found at a house said to be used by the cell that blew up in the town of Alcanar on Wednesday night.
A police official confirmed that three vans tied to the investigation were rented with a credit card belonging to Younes Abouyaaquoub, a 22-year-old Moroccan who is at large and the suspected driver of the van that ploughed down Barcelona’s Las Ramblas promenade.
The vans included the one used in the Las Ramblas carnage, another found in the northeastern town of Ripoll, where all the main attack suspects lived, and a third found in Vic, on the road between the two.
Police believe the cell members had planned to fill the vans with explosives and create a massive attack in the Catalan capital.
Catalan police official Josep Lluis Trapero confirmed that 100 tanks of butane gas were found at the Alcanar house that exploded, as well as ingredients of the explosive TATP, which was used by the Islamic State group in attacks in Paris and Brussels.
“Our thesis is that the group had planned one or more attacks with explosives in the city of Barcelona,” he said. That plot was foiled, however, when the house in Alcanar blew up on Wednesday night.
MORE VICTIMS IDENTIFIED
Ian Moore Wilson, 53, Canada: Mr Wilson’s daughter Fiona described him as an adventurous traveller and “much-loved husband, father, brother and grandfather.” The Vancouver police department issued a statement from Fiona, a staff sergeant in the force, saying that Mr Wilson had been killed and his wife Valerie had been injured in the attack.
Pepita Codina, 75, Spain: Ms Codina is being honoured with a makeshift memorial in Hipolit de Voldrega, a town of 3000 people near Barcelona where she was from.
Bruno Gulotta, 35, Italy: A father from Legnano in northern Italy is being praised as a hero who protected his children during the attack.
Carmen Lopardo, 80, Italy: Ms Lopardo, apparently the oldest person to die in the attack, was among three Italians killed in Barcelona, according to Italy’s foreign ministry. In a statement, it said Ms Lopardo was killed in the “vile terrorist attack in Barcelona,” without providing details.
Silvina Alejandra Pereyra, 40, Argentina: Argentina’s Foreign Ministry says Ms Pereyra, an Argentine-Spanish dual citizen who resided in Barcelona for the last 10 years, is among those who died.
Francisco Lopez Rodriguez, 57, and his grand-nephew Javier Martinez, three, Spain: The pair was walking along the Las Ramblas promenade in Barcelona when they were struck. Mr Lopez was accompanied by his wife Roser — who is recovering from her wounds in a hospital — her niece and the niece’s two children, one of them Javier. “He was a lovely man, kind and charitable” and always telling jokes, said 81-year-old Natalia Moreno Perez from Me Lopez’s native town of Lanteira, some 700 inhabitants outside Granada in southern Spain.
Ana Maria Suzarez, 67, Spain: According to local media, Ms Suzarez was originally from the city of Zaragoza, and was on vacation with her family. Her husband and one of her sisters were injured and being treated at a hospital.
Jared Tucker, 42, USA: The California resident and his wife were ending their European holiday in Barcelona after visiting Paris and Venice, and were on their way to a beach when they decided to stop at a cafe on Las Ramblas. Shortly after her husband left to use the bathroom “all mayhem broke out,” Heidi Nunes-Tucker told NBC News. Later, she learned that he was among those killed in the truck attack in Barcelona, the only known American fatality.
Elke Vanbockrijck, 44, Belgium: Ms Vanbockrijck was at the KFC Heur Tongeren soccer club “nearly every day” ferrying her 10- and 14-year-old boys back and forth to training and matches, said team president Arnould Partoens. The family was on holidays in Barcelona. The boys and their father, a policeman, were unhurt, he said.
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