Suspected Terrorist in Spain Bar Attack Erased Phone Data Before Incident

The Moroccan obtained a new mobile phone on the day of the attack with the same subscriber number, while taking care to modify the security settings by recording his fingerprint to prevent anyone from accessing it. In view of these elements provided by the Civil Guard in its report, the investigating court had opened an investigation to confirm or rule out the hypothesis of a terrorist attack.

The investigators viewed the security cameras in the area and found that the vehicle used to commit the attack, a Volkswagen Golf, made several turns before the attack, probably to choose its target, this "terrace crowded with people." After the attack, a knife with which he would have injured himself and three handwritten notes were found in the vehicle.

The Moroccan, Abdellah Gmara, who died in the attack, arrived in Spain in 2008 and was admitted to the Mislata (Valencia) juvenile center, where he remained until 2012. According to the center’s officials, he maintained a "close" relationship with a member of the Islamic Community of Valencia. He was expelled from the center after having had a sexual "contact" with another 12-year-old minor.

Regarding his mental state, his clinical history indicates that he suffered an anxiety episode in 2016, although there is no evidence that he received psychiatric care or treatment. For the moment, the investigators have not yet found any decisive element proving that the Moroccan was radicalized. The investigation continues.