Judge launches probe into Moroccan driver ‘who wrote a suicide note, stabbed himself and said farewell prayers’ before smashing his car into a Spanish bar terrace killing himself and a British woman’s husband amid fears it was a terror attack
- The motorist killed himself and a South American man in the crash on Friday
- Initial reports say the motorist had suffered stab wounds, but an autopsy revealed the wounds were self-inflicted, leading to suspicions of terrorism
- Investigators discovered a suicide note suggesting the attack was premeditated
- The incident took place at a bar and restaurant in Roldan in south-eastern Spain
A Spanish judge has launched a probe to determine whether a driver who killed himself and the husband of a British woman after smashing into a Spanish bar terrace was a terrorist.
A Ecuadorian man, who was at dinner with his British wife at Honey’s Bar in Roldan, died from injuries he sustained when the unnamed 30-year-old driver ploughed into the side of the bar’s terrace last Friday in the south-east Spanish province of Murcia.
It was initially reported the driver blamed for the crash had been stabbed in an unrelated incident earlier and had lost control of his vehicle because of his injuries.
But it emerged on Tuesday that a judge at Spain’s Audiencia Court in Madrid is looking into whether the perpetrator was a terrorist after an autopsy revealed that the dead motorist’s wounds were self-inflicted.
Local reports say investigators discovered a suicide note pointing to the ‘accident’ being a deliberate act of violence after paramedics and police raced to the scene.
Mental illness is also being considered as a possible reason for the attack.
A Ecuadorian man, who was at dinner with his British wife at Honey’s Bar in Roldan, lost his life when the unnamed 30-year-old driver ploughed into the side of the bar’s terrace last Friday
A Spanish judge has launched a probe to determine whether a driver who killed himself and the husband of a British woman after smashing into a Spanish bar terrace was a terrorist
Local reports say investigators discovered a suicide note pointing to the ‘accident’ being a deliberate act of violence after paramedics and police raced to the scene
Local Alberto Rodriguez, who spoke to Spanish media after witnessing the incident said: ‘It was like being in a film.
‘The car mounted the pavement at great speed.
‘There were about six customers and waiters. The vehicle destroyed almost everything in its path. It’s been a disaster.
‘My wife tried to save the life of the diner who ended up on the ground but there was nothing she could do.’
The unnamed Moroccan lived alone in a flat in the municipality of Torre Pacheco and nothing was found during a search of his apartment, but the manuscript indicating he could be a ‘lone wolf’ terrorist was discovered in the car which had been lent to him.
The suicide note reportedly made references to ‘telepathic murders’ and other violent acts.
A witness has also reportedly come forward and told police he saw the motorist engage in ‘farewell prayers’ before putting his foot on the accelerator with his arms raised high in the air.
Initial reports said the Civil Guard were hunting an aggressor thought to have stabbed the motorist who also died, with information pointing to the knifeman being in a second car seen tailing his vehicle at speed.
A witness has also reportedly come forward and told police he saw the motorist engage in ‘farewell prayers’ before putting his foot on the accelerator with his arms raised high in the air
The incident now under investigation occurred around lunchtime last Friday between the terraces of a restaurant called Gateway India and a popular British hangout called Honey’s Bar in the small village of Roldan which belongs to the municipality of Torre Pacheco
The ongoing criminal probe has now been handed over to the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid, tasked with investigating terrorism, after it emerged the motorist’s wounds had been self-inflicted and the witness to his ‘farewell prayers’ came forward.
On its Facebook site, Honey’s bar confirmed it had closed for two days following the incident ‘in respect of the person who was tragically killed during the accident’ and added: ‘Our respect and condolences go to his family and friends, also our thoughts are with all others at the bar at the time.’
Dozens of messages were also posted in English, with one man saying: ‘Was sitting on the Terrace at Honey’s this afternoon, seems we left just minutes before the accident.’
The owner of the restaurant said the vehicle had been ‘circling the area for some time, driving from one place to another.’
‘He didn’t stop until he hit the house next door. Everything was normal, we were serving customers as usual when we heard the blow,’ he said.
An English nurse on the scene reportedly tried to help the fatally injured customer.
The mayor of the town, Antonio León, explained that Honey’s Bar is a restaurant frequented by British expats who live in the area, although fortunately, the terrace was not full at the time.
It is believed that two other diners were injured and needed hospital treatment, while a woman and her son inside the bar needed treatment for anxiety attacks.
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