BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - The interior chief for Spain's Catalonia region says three days of mourning have been declared to honor the victims of the van attack that killed 13 people in Barcelona.
Interior Department chief Joaquim Forn says the death toll could increase since at least 15 of the 100 people thought to have been injured in the attack were hurt badly.
Senior police official Josep Lluis Trapero says the van driving up onto a sidewalk and swerving among pedestrians in a crowded area was "clearly a terror attack intended to kill as many people as possible."
The State Department says at least one American was killed and one was injured in the terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils, Spain. The department did not identify either of the Americans, but said the injured person suffered only a minor wound.
Trapero says the two suspects in custody were directly linked to the attack, "but that doesn't mean that either were the author of the attack."
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the van attack in Barcelona that officials say killed 12 people and injured many others.
A statement carried by the extremist group's media arm - the Aamaq news agency - says Thursday's attack was carried out by "soldiers of the Islamic State."
It says the attack was in response to IS calls for its followers to target countries participating in the coalition trying to drive the extremist group from Syria and Iraq.
The statement provided no further details about the attackers.
International Reaction:
President Donald Trump is condemning what Spanish authorities say is a deadly terrorist attack in Barcelona.
Trump also says in a statement on Twitter that the U.S. will do "whatever is necessary to help." Trump tells Spain: "Be tough & strong, we love you!"
The White House has said Trump - who is on a working vacation at his private golf club in New Jersey - is being updated on developments by chief of staff John Kelly.
Trump's wife, first lady Melania Trump, tweeted her "thoughts and prayers" to Barcelona before the president.
France's president and the mayors of Paris and Nice are among the French dignitaries offering support for Barcelona after a deadly van attack.
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted Thursday evening: "All my thoughts and solidarity from France for the victims of the tragic attack in Barcelona. We will remain united and determined."
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, whose Mediterranean city lost 86 people in a truck attack during a Bastille Day fireworks display a little more than a year ago, announced that a special homage to Barcelona's victims would be held Friday.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, a Spanish native whose city has faced multiple Islamic extremist attacks in recent years, expressed her "sadness and indignation."
Britain's prime minister says that the "the U.K. stands with Spain against terror" following the van attack in Barcelona that killed at least 13 people and injured dozens of others.
Theresa May condemned the "terrible" attack in which a speeding van struck pedestrians in Las Ramblas. The attack in Barcelona comes after similar vehicle attacks in London this year.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, meanwhile, said it was "with profound sorrow and anguish that I have learnt of the terrorist attack that has struck at the heart of Barcelona this afternoon."
He added: "This cowardly attack has deliberately targeted those enjoying life and sharing time with family and friends. We will never be cowed by such barbarism."
The U.N. Security Council is strongly condemning the terrorist attack in Barcelona and paying tribute to the innocent victims.
Egypt's U.N. Ambassador Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta, the council president, began Friday's meeting on Yemen denouncing Thursday's deadly attack in Spain.
He said: "On behalf of the members of the Security Council, I should like to condemn in the strongest terms the unconscionable terrorist attack in Barcelona, Spain, which targeted innocent civilians."
Aboulatta said the Security Council sends its "deepest condolences" to the families. Many ambassadors and diplomats stood with their heads bowed in tribute.
This is a developing story - the number of people injured or killed has changed throughout the morning. This story will be updated with the most recent information but continue to check back as information can change.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
