this is "nightline." tonight, blood in the streets in barcelona. a van plowing into crowds on the city's most famous boulevard. >> there were people flying through the air. >> at least 13 dead, over 100 injured in spain with isis now claiming responsible. police saying they've killed a group of alleged tourists in another potential attack. now vehicle attacks like this one could be the new terrorist weapon of choice. also tonight, cliff diving. a 90-foot drop at more than 50 miles per hour. we're on the jagged edge of the irish coast for the red bull cliff diving series, with extreme athletes taking the plunge into the icy atlantic.

one wrong move, and it could be their last. "nightline" will be right back.

good evening. and we start here with the breaking news. a van plowing into tourists on one of the most beautiful streets in one of europe's most beautiful countries. there are fast-moving developments on the ground in and around barcelona spain right

now, and james longman is right there. >> reporter: an all-too-familiar scene, with terrorists striking another major european city. the dead and wounded lining the streets while others flee from the carnage. barcelona joining a growing list of european cities targeted in recent months. london, manchester, paris. the attackers using an increasingly common tactic, turning a vehicle into a weapon of slaughter. this time the assault left 13 dead and more than 100 injured. tonight south of barcelona, police killed another group of alleged terrorists in what they're calling a related attack. the barcelona attack began just before 5:00 p.m. on las ramblas in the heart of barcelona. >> it happened in an instant. this white van driving on the road. it's difficult to explain.

>> reporter: the van mowing down pedestrians at what witnesses guessed was 50 miles per hour. >> when i saw it, he was traveling at high speed, knocking people into the air. >> translator: i saw a ton of people screaming. you could hear the van, seeing all the bodies there by las ramblas, i don't know, it was horrific. >> reporter: the van careening down this path in red for more than 1,000 feet before coming to a halt, the front of the van smashed. we are right where the van mounted the sidewalk. you can see debris on the floor, discarded clothes. it came up here all the way down this street. people taking shelter, running into stores and restaurants. this woman and her family found sanctuary in a shoe store. >> i saw people running, and we stay in this store and don't leave. >> reporter: these people from connecticut arrived only today. they were left on lockdown in

their hotel with no information for hours. so you were in your hotel when you heard a commotion outside? >> correct. we heard there was a van that plowed into pedestrians down hi here with some injuries and that's how it started. >> we were not allowed to go out of the hotel. they closed the doors. >> reporter: so the police came into the hotel and closed it down. >> asked the manager not to let anyone to go out. >> reporter: what were you feeling at that point? >> scared. it was scary, not to know what's happening and just seeing people running outside. >> reporter: police on foot, guns drawn. combing the streets in search of the assailants. >> translator: this is clearly a terrorist attack, intended to kill as many people as possible. >> reporter: tonight police calling this 28-year-old moroccan driss one of the terrorists. he recently arrived in spain

last sunday and rented the van used in the attack. he was not behind the wheel today. oukabir is now in custody along with another suspect. and a third man was shot and killed after running a police roadblock. oukabir's facebook page shows him resting on the beach, listening to rap music. but he recently shared this anti-semitic video whom he described as "true heroes." >> reporter: normally this is bustling on a summer night. now it's virtually shut down, the only thing, security vehicles and their personnel. it comes straight out of an isis playbook. the group has urged followers to carry out similar attacks. even detailing the type of truck to use. >> we can only expect to see more attacks. >> if you think about that it's

so easy to do. the world is basically a soft target. you need no training. you need no equipment. you just need somebody who's got the wherewithal ability to pull off these horrible acts. >> reporter: today's attack once again a reminder of a troubling new reality for cities across europe. >> i'm from london. i know we've had problems. any western city is a target. especially tourist areas. not a complete surprise. >> reporter: the images stirring up dark memories of similar carnage. vehicles to create mass destruction. bastille day, in nice france. 86 dead, over 150 more injured when a cargo truck plowed through a crowded promenade. >> there's another sound, shooting in the air. >> reporter: less than six months later in germany.

as many were finishing up their holiday shopping, a delivery truck barrelled through a berlin christmas market. >> it came through the entrance, hit the sides of the barriers and carried on past us. >> reporter: 12 dead and over 50 more hurt. and this year, two attacks in london. in march, a driver struck down pedestrians on westminster bridge, killing five and injuring at least 29 people. then this summer. >> get moving! >> reporter: on london bridge, a van plowed into pedestrians. three attackers jumped out of vehicle, stabbing people indiscriminately at a near by market. >> the idea that you could drive a car, 20, 30, 40 miles per hour into a very densely-populated area. you're going to harm or kill a number of people by the sheer force of what you're hitting them with. and so i think that it's a horrific crime. but it's also, if you're one of these people with such a sick

bent, it's just too easy to do. >> reporter: in the u.s., authorities are concerned about how easily a large truck could become a killing machine. >> the problem with that is you have all those businesses, restaurants, et cetera, that need deliveries. so how do you get vehicles to these locations? it becomes sort of a logistical nightmare in trying to shut down streets. >> reporter: in may, the tsa released a report on the threat of vehicle ramming attacks in the u.s., recommending reporting to authorities any suspicions arising from the rental of large-capacity vehicles near large gatherings and creating barriers that create a serpentine path of entry. and it was just this past weekend when a car driven by a white nationalist plowed into a group in charlottesville, killing heather heyer and injuring at least 19 others. >> the car just plowed through hundreds of people downtown charlottesville. >> reporter: meanwhile, cities

across the u.s. have doubled down on their security efforts. and officials wasted little time in condipping this latest attack. president trump tweeting, the united states condemned the terror attack in barcelona, spain and will do whatever is necessary to help. >> terrorists around the world should know the united states and our allies are resolved to find you and bring you to justice. >> reporter: that message echoed by the spanish prime minister. [ speaking in foreign language ] >> reporter: but the words of politicians don't hide the fact that as isis strongholds in the middle east crumble, attacks on soft targets in the west are increasing with more innocent civilians caught no tin the crossfire. >> tune in to gma tomorrow for the latest on the unfolding events in spain. and next on night line,

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award winning engine. the volvo xc90. the most awarded luxury suv of the century. this august visit your local volvo dealer to receive sommar savings of up to $4,500. cliff divers say that hitting water at 50 miles per hour can feel like you're slamming into concrete. if your body isn't perfectly positioned you can suffer from concussion, spinal injury or death. so why do it? we followed some athletes to ireland to find out. here's gloria river ear yea. >> reporter: at the extreme edges of the world, jagged

cliffs meet churning sea. they call this the serpent's layer in ireland where gale-force winds can scream over icy waters. >> so cold. >> reporter: only the most intrepid dare it all for that perfect dive. ♪ david couturi is one of them. >> a little over on the entry. it's always the most nerve-wracking. >> reporter: this is the red bull cliff diving world series. 22 athletes, six events and one way out. a 90-foot plunge into frigid darkness. david's journey began on another coast. training for months in california. >> two, three. >> reporter: the grueling physical demands on a diver have dominated his life since he was a little boy.

now his own body can meet a challenge. david is fighting back from a shoulder injury that stole last season from him. >> it was long and tough and nerve-wracking and mentally strenuous. it's been a long recovery road. >> reporter: across the country in indiana, a different challenge for a gymnast turned diver. >> i'm excited. i'm hoping this will be my year. >> reporter: cecily carlson will be one of the first women allowed to compete at the serpent's layer. -- lair. >> if even one thing goes wrong, that can be a big setback. >> reporter: we've come all the way to dublin, a three hour drive, and now it's amazing. we made it to the gaelic town, but we missed the last ferry! lucky for us, there is a fishing boat. more than 24 hours of travel later we are there in the dead

of night, the serpent sleeping in his lair until dawn. just after daybreak, we meet up with david. feels like we are at the edge of the world. >> yeah. it's a very cool spot. >> reporter: limestone terraces twist under foot until suddenly, a perfect rectangle is revealed at low tide. no way, that is crazy. how does a kid from toledo become a global cliff diver? >> my dad says he dropped me on my hid too many times as a kid. that's where the downward spiral started at a young age. >> reporter: dreaming of olympic gold, narrowly missing the 2008 team. you are coming back from a big injury. >> the toughest injury i've ever had. i tore my super sene dus. >> reporter: when you look at this, what are the dangers? >> hypothetically, the

consequences are severe. the speeds that we hit going almost 90 kilometers per hour, 57 miles per hour, hitting that water. you hear the analogy of hitting concrete. it's hard. we're talk torn muscles and ligaments. it can be loss of conscious nurks punctured lungs, internal hemorrhaging. the margin of error is extremely small. >> reporter: such an extreme sport. >> people point us out as adrenaline junkies. but these are very, very calculated risk takers. you're not just going up there and chuckin' stuff. that's how you don't make it to the next jump. >> definitely a little nervous but excited as well. >> reporter: it's time for his first practice dive. >> it's been a long buildup to this. >> reporter: when these divers hit the water, they're no less than four safety divers on hand if anything goes

how was it? it looked good. it looked good from where i was sitting, it looked good. how did it feel? >> it was fine. a little over on the entry. ♪ >> reporter: his second >> woo! >> reporter: let's see that again. two summer saults and a half twist, hitting the water at 53 miles per hour. the impact on their body too much for a head-first entry. every dive you go on a rollercoaster from terrified to overjoyed. >> mm-hm. >> reporter: this is what you do, and yet every time before a dive there's that little hint of fear? >> absolutely. it can start weeks before you

come. it comes as soon as you touchdown. it starts when you wake up in the morning. it definitely hits when you step on that platform. >> reporter: all the athletes say they feel it. >> you've got the wind. you've got the rain. it's cold here. a horizon of water that's endless. and you're looking at it, hoping that what you see still what you see in a dive. hopefully it doesn't change. >> reporter: it's time. >> i think that once the first dive goes in, then, in all, i'll be able to calm down a little bit. >> reporter: the risk taking is a big attraction for locals. >> game time. >> reporter: olympic diving champion greg lougainis says this is the tricks they're doing. >> the element of difficulty and, you know, it's just amazing what they're doing. so they're progressing in the sport. >> reporter: he says precision is key to getting high marks. >> you're looking at the takeoff, strong takeoff, the

flight in the air, you know, that it's smooth and graceful. and entry into the water. >> reporter: first the men. david hideads up for his first dive. >> not a bad start. i'll take it. >> even half. >> yeah. pretty good. you're always looking for those nines and tens, but in these conditions, first event of the year, we'll start with that one. >> reporter: now the cecily claiming seventh. >> i'm proud of myself for getting out there. i really did want to do t so, it's cold. >> reporter: david's final threesom three somersaults. finish being

finishing in fifth place. but being here is a win. >> it transferred from traditional diving to now cliff diving. for now it's the wild west and we're forging our own path. >> reporter: for "nightline," in ireland. at least it wasn't a fastball. the wild first pitch that had all the men in fenway park groaning. sy. it's a long-distance run. and you have the determination to keep going. humira has a proven track record of being prescribed for nearly 10 years. humira works inside the body to target and help block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to symptoms. in clinical trials, most adults taking humira were clear or almost clear and many saw 75% and even 90% clearance in just four months. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal, infections and cancers, including lymphoma have happened as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure.

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and finally tonight, an epic and painful end to a pitch. first time pitches can be painful, remember mariah carey? or fitty cent's attempt. >> just a bit outside. >> but none of them quite as uncomfortable as this one. cancer survivor and red sox fan, jordan lee andrei tossing out the first pitch, hitting a photographer well outside the strike zone, the famed cameraman

catching this shot right before impact. as we know, there's no crying in baseball. the photographer bounced right back, even taking a picture with lee andre after the game. hard to watch, but thank you for watching abc news tonight. as always, we're online 24/7 at abc news.com and on our "nightline" footba "nightline" facebook page. thank you for watching.

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