THE CIA warned police in Barcelona that Las Ramblas might be a terror target two months ago, it has been reported.

At least 13 people are dead and at least 80 injured after a van ploughed into people crossing the road. Terror group Islamic State has since claimed responsibility.

The US spy agency even warned the Mossos d’Esquadra regional police that jihadis might specifically target the tourist hotspot, El Periodico reports.

The Australian reports that Las Ramblas provided an access road down one portion, would be an easy target for terrorists.

There were no bollards or obstacles in place to slow down or prevent any such attack by a vehicle.

“The CIA had already warned the Mossos d’Esquadra that Barcelona might be a terrorist target,” El Periodico reports.

“The Central Intelligence Agency moved its notice to the Catalan police two months ago. They even put the focus on the Ramblas.”

The Barcelona attack comes in the wake of Bastille Day attack in Nice where a truck mowed down pedestrians, killing 86.

The motive behind the Barcelona attack has not yet been established by the Spanish authorities.

Witnesses to the terror attack in Barcelona have described the carnage after a van smashed into pedestrians at tourist hotspot Las Ramblas.

A witness told Spanish TV station TV3: “A van attacked people, it came out flying.

“It is a hell of blood.”

One of the suspected attackers involved in mowing down people in Barcelona on Thursday has been killed in a shootout with police on the outskirts of the city, La Vanguardia newspaper reported.

Two suspects have so far been arrested in relation to the horrific attack.

Driss Oukabir, 28, who police had named earlier as having rented the van used in the attack, was the first to be arrested.

It was not immediately clear how many attackers were involved in the incident,

People have been told to avoid the area as emergency services react to a “serious incident” in the Spanish city.

Metro lines have been shut and shoppers and pedestrians have been seen running into buildings as armed police flooded the area.

Diego, another witness said: “A lot of screams have been heard and I went out to the balcony.

“There are a lot of people lying on the ground, a lot of blood. Some of them looked like they were dead.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission