The Civil Guard has dismantled a paramilitary group rooted in Nazi ideology after arresting 11 of its leaders and initiating investigations into 11 additional members across multiple provinces. The operations spanned Almería, Alicante, Bizkaia, Castellón, Jaén, La Rioja, Madrid, Málaga, Navarra, Pontevedra, Segovia, Sevilla, Teruel, Toledo, Valencia, and Zaragoza, signaling a national scale of activity and reach.
The group faced serious charges, including forming an illegal association, insulting state institutions, assault, illegal possession of weapons, and the incitement, encouragement, and dissemination of hatred, discrimination, and violence against various protected groups. The case underscores a pattern of intent to organize, recruit, and mobilize individuals around extremist beliefs.
The Civil Guard conducted searches in Malaga and Roquetas de Mar (Almería), resulting in the seizure of eight firearms, more than 9,000 cartridges, precursor materials to explosives, 34 bottles of sulfuric acid, and a broad array of prohibited weapons including brass knuckles, kubotans, switchblades, and defensive sprays. Investigators also recovered a large quantity of propaganda materials associated with neo-Nazi ideology.
Investigations began in November 2021 after authorities observed one of the leaders circulating numerous online videos that aimed to humiliate and demean various groups, particularly immigrants, women, and LGBT individuals. The content suggested a calculated effort to spread hostility and normalize violent attitudes toward marginalized communities.
“Create an army”
A high-ranking organizer, who maintained influence across virtual networks and boasted about 2,800 followers, publicly spoke of creating an army to end what he described as the current regime and to implement his ideology. He urged followers to embrace the call and even invited them to take up arms as part of this ideological project.
As the movement gained traction, several adherents established a self-proclaimed campaign known as the “Military Order,” characterized by supremacist rhetoric. Its leadership referred to themselves as “captains” and “commanders,” with regional structures labeling themselves as provincial captains and other ranks within a loosely defined hierarchy.
The members were dispersed across the country, meeting in person and online with some regularity. An apparent nucleus operated from a claimed “headquarters” in the province of Malaga, serving as a coordinating hub for activities and communications.
Detained leaders allegedly instructed followers to arm themselves. Some individuals sought and obtained gun licenses and rifles; others acquired shotguns, pistols, and even weapons with potential explosive capabilities. The group also accumulated various sharp and prohibited implements as part of its arsenal, contributing to a broader climate of violence and intimidation.
The operation was led by the Delegated Hate Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Malaga and the Fuengirola Court of Investigation No. 4, with support from expert agents from the Malaga Command and the Basque Country Information Office. The coordinated response reflected a multi-jurisdictional effort to disrupt the organization and prevent further harm.