Police believe he was the driver of a van which careered down the Las Ramblas avenue, killing 13 and injuring more than 100 others.
He was killed some 25 miles (40km) west of Barcelona near a petrol station following a tip off.
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Abouyaaqoub, wearing a fake explosive belt, is reported to have shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is Greatest”).
An extensive manhunt was already under way when police closed in on the Subirats area, close to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia.
Bomb disposal officers went to the scene and used a robot to examine the fake explosive belt. This led to some delay before Abouyaaqoub could be officially identified.
The Catalan police said the operation was still under way and Cadena Ser radio reported that an extensive search was continuing for another man and a van.
Local residents described seeing some 20 police cars heading for the scene and helicopters circling.
Police said the investigation was still international in scope.
At an earlier news conference, police described how after the Barcelona attack, Abouyaaqoub made his escape on foot to the outskirts of the city where he hijacked a car.
Some 90 minutes after driving down Las Ramblas, Abouyaaqoub fled to the city’s university district, police said.
He hijacked the car before driving it through a police checkpoint and later abandoning the vehicle.-BBC
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