THE family of a seven-year-old boy killed in the Barcelona terror attack have said they were blessed to have had him in their lives.

Relatives of Julian Cadman, a dual British-Australian national, appealed for information about his whereabouts after he became separated from his mother in the massacre on Las Ramblas that left 13 dead and at least 120 injured.

In a statement, released by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia, his family said: “Julian was a much loved and adored member of our family.

“As he was enjoying the sights of Barcelona with his mother, Julian was sadly taken from us.

“He was so energetic, funny and cheeky, always bringing a smile to our faces.

“We are so blessed to have had him in our lives and will remember his smiles and hold his memory dear to our hearts.

“We would like to thank all those who helped us in searching for Julian.

“Your kindness was incredible during a difficult time.

“We also acknowledge we are not the only family to be affected by the events, our prayers and thoughts are with all people affected.”

Julian’s grandfather, Tony, used to live in Gillingham, North Dorset.

Meanwhile police in Spain have linked three rental vans to the fugitive at the centre of a manhunt following terror attacks in Barcelona and a nearby seaside resort.

Spanish authorities said the terror cell responsible for the attacks has been dismantled, but the search is still on for Younes Abouyaaqoub, a 22-year-old Moroccan named in Spanish media as the suspected driver of the van used in the massacre on Las Ramblas that left 13 dead and at least 120 injured. A police official said all three vans were rented using the credit card of Abouyaaquoub, who remains at large and is the focus of a manhunt in north-east Spain, the Associated Press reported.

The official said one of the vans was used in the Barcelona attack, while another was found in Vic, 44 miles north of Barcelona on the road to Ripoll, where all the main attack suspects lived, and the third was found in Ripoll itself.AP said police believe the cell wanted to load the vans with explosives for a big attack, but their plans changed after the house where their plot was being hatched blew up on Wednesday in Alcanar.

The investigation is also focusing on a missing imam who police believe could have died in that house explosion.

Police believe Abdelbaki Es Satty radicalised the young men in the extremist cell, AP reported.

Spanish interior minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said five members of the cell were shot dead, four were in custody and as many as two were killed in an explosion.

He said no new attacks were imminent, the country’s terrorist threat alert will be maintained at level four.

Mossos, Catalonia’s police force, said the cell involved 12 people.