The Week That Was Grassroots Jihadists Strike in Barcelona Two deadly vehicular ramming attacks in and near Barcelona this week served as a potent reminder that well-coordinated cells tied to the Islamic State are still finding room to operate in the Western world. This is a threat that will become even more pronounced as progress is made in dismantling the Islamic State core in Syria and Iraq. Even as Spain was bracing itself for such an attack, it dodged a far deadlier plot: a bomb-making accident at a safe house and the attackers' attempt to rent large vehicles pointed toward the intent for a large-scale vehicle-borne bombing in Barcelona. When their original plot went awry, the attackers were quick to adapt to simple car ramming tactics before getting caught.