Islamized Spain: Major Counter-Terrorism Operation in Melilla: Nine Jihadists Arrested

In a major counter-terrorism operation, the National Police of Spain have detained nine jihadists in Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city in North Africa. This operation also involved Moroccan authorities, leading to an additional arrest in Farjana, Morocco. Spearheaded by the General Information Commissariat (CGI) of the National Police and guided by Spain’s Ministry of the Interior, this action marks a critical milestone in the ongoing fight against Islamist terrorism.

Details of the Operation

The operation, conducted by anti-terrorist experts, led to the apprehension of individuals professing thier Islamic faith and actively involved in recruiting others for the jihadist cause. According to a statement from the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance of Morocco (DGSN), these arrests are part of continuous security coordination between Moroccan and Spainish law enforcement services.

Among the individuals arrested in Melilla, one had been previously detained in Spain for involvement in Islamic terrorism. This indicates the continued presence and activity of jihadist networks in the region. The Muslim arrested in Farjana, Morocco, is currently under investigation for connections to Islamic terrorist networks and activities. This investigation is being overseen by the relevant Prosecutor’s Office.

The National Police’s CGI has been actively combatting Islamic terrorism, with the last months of 2023 seeing an uptick in jihadist arrests in Spain. This increase aligns with a global call to jihad by the terrorist group Hamas, aimed not only against Israel but also against Western societies, prompting heightened vigilance by security forces across Europe, including Spain.

Legal Proceedings

In a legal development, Judge Santiago Pedraz of the National Court has ordered provisional imprisonment for seven of the nine individuals detained in the Melilla operation. Charged with terrorism, indoctrination, and glorification of Islamic terrorism, these individuals include former jihadist combatants or their relatives. The police consider them part of a violent group responsible for recruitment, indoctrination, and radicalization, primarily targeting young people in their community.

Investigation Insights

The investigation into this group began at the end of 2020 when Muslim affiliated with ISIS were detected in Melilla. The investigation confirmed the existence of a network engaged in creating, editing, and sharing radical and violent audiovisual content on social media. This content justified and incited violent jihad, with some members expressing a desire to travel to conflict zones to take up arms.

The group also conducted face-to-face meetings for recruitment and indoctrination purposes, showing content from official ISIS production companies and spreading hatred towards Western society. Some of these meetings took place in a local sports center, where participants underwent intense physical training in martial arts.

During the operation, ten homes and several vehicles were searched, leading to the seizure of five machetes, axes, and other prohibited weapons, used as part of their criminal activities. Among those detained were individuals previously convicted of terrorism crimes who had maintained their jihadist ideologies, including former terrorist fighters and their relatives.

Collaboration and Significance

This operation, directed by the Central Court of Instruction number Five and the Prosecutor’s Office of the National Court, involved the collaboration of the Provincial Information Brigades of Melilla, Málaga, and Granada, along with the National Intelligence Center (CNI). This concerted effort represents a significant stride in combating the threat of Islamist terrorism and underscores the importance of international cooperation and vigilance in countering these global security challenges.

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