Lets begin before that though with our coverage in barcelona with cnns reporter. Reporter good morning, poppy and were beginning to learn a bit more about who the victims were. The one was a father, and he had a 5yearold son and a baby. They were here as a family on vacation. This is an attack that shocked spain but the population here to a certain degree was bracing itself for this type of violence. It is also reverberated across the globe. Among those killed and wounded people from 24 different nations. Heres a look at how the events unfolded. It was just hours after a white van plowed through crowds of pedestrians on one of the ba barcelo barcelonas most popular streets. 70 miles south, injuring six kr civilians and one police officer. Authorities fatally shot the five attackers in the car that drove into pedestrians. The late night incident is believed to be related to the terrifying earlier attack in barcelona that killed at least 13. And injured more than 100. Saw people flying over the vehicle, and i was just a really, really horrific scene of immediate carnage. Witnesses say the driver the van, who remains on the loose accelerated to 50 miles per hour. Before zigzagging down the boulevard attempting to hit as many people as possible. He was plowing people down and swerving left and right and it was a my taxi driver stopped and we froze and he said oh, my god, oh, my god. You just cant even imagine that fear that just it comes over you. Reporter it was sheer panic and total chaos, frightened survivors ran for cover. The famous promenade was covered in bloody bodies. One woman documented the carnage from her window. It was just crash, crash and screams and cries. Reporter investigators are now desperately searching for the driver who abandoned the van before fleeing on foot. Spanish authorities are calling the assault an act of jihadi terrorism. Police have arrested multiple suspects in separate scities on who is connected to this house explosion in catalonia that killed one woman the night before the attack in h barcelona. In h the square behind me, there was just a moment of violence, and then the crowd gathered here, started chanting we are not afraid. This has sadly become something of the norm across europe. Its the sixth time in recent years that terrorists have used a vehicle as a deadly weapon. Thank you very much. Lets get right to one of the witnesses of this attack. Omar popal. Joining us now visiting barcelona from san diego, california. The youre okay thank god. How are they. Im traveling with one of my cousins as well, and theyre doing okay. Just still trying to really understand everything that happened after the events yesterday. Not going to be easy, going to take time to process. We appreciate your taking time to help us understand what you lived through. What did you see, my friend . So we were me and my cousin were both heading toward the las ram blas and wanted to go to the beach so we grabbed a few snacks and starting to head out. As we approached the exit getting closer, all we heard was peoplewhat i saw a small group of people starting to yell and scream and everyone followed suit and started heading back the way that we initially came from. The so i just looked at my cousin and told her to run and we both just tried as fast as we could to get out of there. In the process of running out of the market, all i could see was like families trying to find their children, and i saw in front of me a dad and his child fall as well. I mean i tripped right behind them. It was very slippery and wet and chaotic. No one was really thinking. Everything was very instinctdriven and thankfully we were all able to get up and run out as quick as we could. In the process we heard a loud shattering bang, something a that sounded like a gunshot. We were terrified and get out as quickly as possible. What did you think was happening and when did you learn what it was that someone has using a vehicle to try to hurt as many people as possible . Im sorry could you repeat that. What do you think it was when you first started to scramble . What did you think was happening and when did you learn the reality of what it was . I didnt find out that it was a vehicle until about 10, 15 minutes later. I was constantly refreshing any news Media Outlets i had trying to see what happened because we didnt want to go back into the direction of where the chaos started from. We thought someone had a firearm and was unleashing it. Thats the first then we heard and were able to make sense of. We were very terrified there was either one or multiple guns at the scene. So that was what was initially going through our head. It could be some sort of a terrorist act. What do you think about the idea of a man or multiple people using a van and going through a place that crowded trying to swerve and hurt as many people as possible . What do you make of the situation . Personally disgusts me that things like this are possible and that they happen and people dont realize how realistic it is. The for me it was very sur reel i never thought in a million years the one day im on vacation in the specific area. Seeing all the terror on everybodys faces is really unexpected. I really couldnt make sense of it until after we got away. I saw someone injured and i was this is like actually happening. A real situation i was in the middle of. Just very difficult to really make sense of and really disgusts me there are people like this that will go out of their way to harm others. The threat is all too real but so is the response. The what have you seen from people since this terrible event . Even in the hours after and the scene behind you now. How are people responding . Thankfully, light after the incident took place, i saw a lot of Police Vehicles and ambulances coming there. The about 30 seconds to a minute later. So thankfully i felt there was a very quick response. Today, walking down las ram brass in h the side of the street vigils being held. People theyre related to or knew or just to be there in spirit. Very kind of unifying feeling. And entire Community Coming together, not just us, the locals, but tourists like myself and my cousin. Its important for you to be part of that response. Thank you for joining us. Im happy youre okay and your cousin. Well keep in our thoughts all those who were not. Omar, be well and thank you for joining us. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. So lets bring in our panel. Editor in chief of my life inside al qaeda. Peter, the author of United States jihad. K author of ashleys war. Nice to have all of you here, experts on all of this. Peter berg gin, this morning you have a new cnn not an opinion piece, a fact piece, laying out what has led us to this point in the increased use of these vehicles by so many to i a tack so many across europe. The what stands out to you about what happened in spain . Well, unfortunately this is part of a pattern where weve seen 14 vehicle attacks in the last 12 by jihadist terrorists and two by sort of right wing extremesists. If p you thing become it from the terrorist point of view, the chaos was just as effective as debt detonating a large bomb. If you look at what actually has unfolded, it really isnt that sophisticated. There was a failed bombing, it looks like. They had fake explosives, using vehicles as weapons. This was not what we saw in h paris or brus els where highly trained people with ep withens and bombs that worked killed 130 people in paris and 32 in brussels. So i think here, the fact that isis is described it as soldiers of the caliphate is the same terminology they used after the Orlando Attack when he disease key scribed as a sold soldier of the caliphate. How do you thread together what theyre doing in an attack like this with whats being learned somewhere else, the size of the cells coordination that people are worried about . What does this situation speak to in this regard. I think this is exactly what people are trying to figure out. I was in syria last week reporting on the front lines of the isis fight. And there you saw a lot of people who are fighting isis insi insi inside and you see this thread and influence going. The you talk to senior military leaders in the u. S. And what they will say is it is much easier to till a terrorist than it is to slay an idea. Battling the ideology is the longest term and hardest fight. Since we have the beauty of your perspective of the horror, frankly, in syria, the fact that isis is being weakened and has been so weakened on the ground, how does that translate to what were seeing . For example, spain had been rather immune for over a decade. They had many fewer spaniards going over to syria being trained and coming back. But now they are part of the other countries that are victims of an attack like this. The what does it tell you . Its also personally, i lived in spain and spent a lot of time in tarragona and barcelona. The these are beautiful tourist towns that dont normally see this kind of activity. What you see on the ground shah they are increasingly cornered. Increasingly returning to car bombs, vehicleborne ieds, there is a sense theyre being backed into a corner so the inspiration and ideology becomes more important. Let taes take that idea. Fight the man. Also have to fight the ideology. That leads us to how the president responded when he said study what general per shing did. He is referring to this mythology that surrounded the tactics. It seemed untrue about ditching the bullets in blood and shooting 49 terrorists and sending the 50th one away with the bullet. But the idea he is to say studrstudy a med not like this. Its deeply offensive to a billion people on the planet. Its inflammatory. People in u. S. Counter terrorism are very concerned about this because it could paint the target on the back of americans tour i. S overseas. The military. Use forward recruitment. Even more willing to attack the United States. Those words were not well spoken. Peter, youre analysis of the president not only pushing a myth but doing it mere hours after this tragedy of a nato ally . Clearly, you know, promulgating things that are false is not helpful. The i will say this. At the groups that are attacking the jihad zist groups dont mention trump very much. Theres been a lot of discussion about how this might be inflammatory et cetera. The but isis hasnt really mentioned trump at all in its propaganda. And thats maybe some what surprising, but if you think about the way they think about the world, for them, whether its bill clinton or george w. Bush or george h. W. Bush or president obama or trump. Essentially the view is American Foreign policy is kind of the problem here. Whoever is president is largely doing the same thing every other american president has done. I would be careful to jump to the conclusion that somehow trumps statement about pershing is going to be inflammatory. Regardless what it means to the enemy, it means something to the americans. There is a belief that war is held, youre fighting savages, which is what theyll call terrorists and that you should match methods and weve been too soft and weak and america has to be you tougher and fight the way they fight and thats how you win. What do you make of that . This is what senator mccain who is a survivor of the prisoner of war camp and who experienced torture. We cannot be an america that counters and tacts just like those we oppose. I do think you hear i would have been in a lot of places where people say yes, that is exactly what we should be doing. The but when you talk to folks in uniform they are the last people to say that, in part because for example, when you talk about how you talk about the muslim community, how you talk about people from across the world. Youre talking about american shoeld soldiers in those countries, recruiting interpreters and people to go outside with them. So i dont think that the us versus them conversation is helpful in any way for those who are fighting americas war. All right i appreciate it. Thank you vech for your perspective on this story. Another big story were covering is the aftermath what happened in h charlottesville. The woman killed there heather heyer, she was memorialized. Her mother was speaking out and has a strong message for the president. See wasnt want to speak to them directly, and shell tell you why. Next. With the new sleep number 360 smart bed. It senses and automatically adjusts on both sides. The new 360 smart bed is part of our biggest sale of the year where all beds are on sale. And right now save 50 on the labor Day Limited Edition bed. Istart at the new carfax. Comar. Show me minivans with no reported accidents. Boom. Love it. [struggles] show me the carfax. Start your used car search at the allnew carfax. Com. And ive never seen a better time to refinance your home, than this summer. Why . Because right now were seeing our average customer save 20,000. But with the fed already talking about raising rates, this window will not last for long. Lendingtree is the only place to compare up to 5 real refinance offers against your current mortgage for free. Are you sure you have the best rate . Take 3 minutes and find out right now. Because at lendingtree, when banks compete, you win. Knowing where you stand. Its never been easier. Except when it comes to your retirement plan. But at fidelity, were making Retirement Planning clearer. And it all starts with getting your Fidelity Retirement score. In 60 seconds, youll know where you stand. And together, well help you make decisions for your plan. To keep you on track. Time to think of your future its your retirement. Know where you stand. Time to think of your future fotheres a seriousy boomers virus out there thats been almost forgotten. Its hepatitis c. One in 30 boomers has hep c, yet most dont even know it. Because it can hide in your body for years without symptoms, and its not tested for in routine blood work. The cdc recommends all baby boomers get tested. If you have hep c, it can be cured. For us its time to get tested. Ask your Healthcare Provider for the simple blood test. Its the only way to know for sure. The mother of the woman run down in the charlottesville attack is speaking out this morning. She has a strong message for President Trump. She says she hasnt talked to the president and after what he said about my child i saw an actual clip of him at a press conference equating the protests with the kkk and White Supremacists. Lets discuss this. He was also the virginia chairman of trumps campaign. Great to be on the show. The mothers upset because she doesnt like the implication that people like her daughter are being inny way equated to people who do nothing preach hate. Its tragedy. What is even more tragic though is cnn tried to exploit that womans death so say all this violent was caused by the far right when you know darn well that there was a violence by both sides and a radical Left Wing Organization which you and other liberals have refused to d condemn. The first thing, you do not believe that the killer here should be seen as a terrorist. Jeff sessions does. I believe hes a murder. Thats fine insulate him. I dont want to argue at all. Despicable human being. Why would you defend him from the identity of being a trt. Chris, did you ever hear me defend him im never going to doeft a murder. You defend violent lefties. The ive never heard any republican defend this son of a gun who murdered this poor woman. Why would you suggest that it is not an act of terror when someone drove a car, just like what we just saw in barcelona and so many other places, to try to terror rise people and killed one . Why would you say no thats not what it is. That is not a defense. Look, chris, theres a situation here when you got a have the prosecutors define this, whatever kind of crime it is, firstdegree murder, cap pal murder. Jeff sessions says it is. Do you agree with him . Look, im going to look at Law Enforcement personnel and prosecutors, if they say its terrorism, it is. Im not competent to answer that question. I believe its a murder that needs to be furnished and what concerns me is the left and democrat the refusing to condemn condemn shooting steve skal leez by the way which you never condemned. Im emboldened and going to do it again as the blood is going to be on your hands. Cory, i would caution you no the to be reckless with the truth on this particular show. You do it all the time. Every morning. Cory. Okay. You can make your generalist versions. I get that it is a clever defense when you have nothing valuable to say. The idea cory, that we or anybody else didnt jump on the situation with what happened to steve school leaska lease, that turn out the person that did it and ideology want to zblsh want to hear the answer . Do you call that terrorism. Do you want to hear the answer . Yeah. Do you call that terrorism . Did they call the shooting of him if the authorities had said it was, i would not have disagreed with them just to motivate my own agenda. Terrorism tact Jeff Sessions said it is. Yes sessions said it is. Well, if that is his conclusion, i havent heard that you havent heard it. That is his conclusion. He called it an act of domestic terror and looking. Le so you change your opinion. If its described as an act of terror by the attorney general, i will accept that. Aim note a prosecutor. But i think its a window in to what you want to be true. You dont know any knowledge. Facts on the ground. Neither do you. About who started violence. I know a heck of a lot more than you do i guarantee that ill prove it right now. Violence by the left . In chfarlottesville. Listen. Everybody condemns violence. The mistake youre making is youre saying what brought the people to that rally, their motivations are equal. And thats what got the president in trouble. And thats what gets an apoll gist like you in trouble. The kkk did not go there to fight against hate. And some do it the right way. Some do it the wrong way. Heather heyer and many people like her went there to fight against hate. The kkk went there for one reason. To spread hate. They dont care about the stat stew. It was a ruse and you know it. Everybodys condemned the kkk chris. When you ignore the motivation for attendance. Every you em power the hate. Thats why theyre thanking you. Every politician. Your friend Jason Kessler and the far right is thanking you. Including yourself have not condemned the far left. It is taking over your party. Hows youre piece . Can you hear me . Agregressive violent organization you have not condemned. Can you hear what im saying to you . Youre not responding to what im saying either. Because its because you only one want side. Thats the definition of cnn. Frankly im a little shocked by the lack of lodgic. In violence wrong in yes. Are people from