Three Arrested in Spain and Morocco for Alleged Terrorist Activities
On Wednesday, three individuals were apprehended in a coordinated operation between the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance of Morocco (DGST) and the National Police of Spain, as reported by police sources cited by El País. The operation resulted in two arrests in Tangier, Morocco, and one in Palma, Spain. Authorities have indicated that the three detainees were part of a jihadist cell reportedly planning a terrorist attack on Spanish soil, utilizing a lone wolf strategy.
The ongoing investigation suggests that the group's leader was in the process of orchestrating an attack in Spain. However, specific details regarding the target or method of the planned assault have not been disclosed. The other two individuals arrested are believed to have played supportive roles, including funding activities for active combatants linked to ISIS affiliates in the Sahel region and Somalia.
Official sources from El País have confirmed that the successful coordination of the arrests and the dismantling of this group, which allegedly maintained its own international connections to provide logistical support for jihadist operations, was made possible through collaboration between intelligence services and security forces from both Spain and Morocco. Authorities are continuing their inquiries to determine whether more members or collaborators exist and to clarify the extent of the group's activities. Meanwhile, the three detainees remain in police custody as judicial proceedings advance.
Record Number of Jihadist Arrests in Spain
The year 2025 concluded with a record number of arrests related to jihadism in Spain. In total, anti-terrorism operations conducted by state security forces resulted in 100 arrests across 64 operations targeting jihadist-related offenses. According to sources from the Ministry of the Interior cited by Europa Press, the predominant crime among these arrests was indoctrination. Notably, 14 of the detainees were minors, which, according to officials from the Civil Guard and National Police, reflects the "exponential growth" in the number of minors involved in such terrorist activities. A spokesperson from the General Information Commissioner of the National Police explained that "minors have no boundaries: there are more cases, and they are increasingly dangerous," during the discussions titled 'The Jihadist Threat to Spain: Persistence and Transformation.'
The number of arrests related to jihadism in 2025 saw an increase of 19 individuals compared to 2024, which had already set a record with 81 arrests linked to jihadist terrorism. Although 2004 was the peak year for arrests, totaling 131, followed by 2005 with 92 arrests, the numbers have not approached these levels since 2023, which recorded 78 arrests.
As reported by infobae.com.
