La Guardia Civil arrested in Barcelona a suspected Daesh member who maintained links with jihadists from multiple countries after authorities detected intense propaganda activity in favor of terrorism, including disseminating information about explosive materials on social networks.
According to the Guardia Civil Directorate General, national and international cooperation was essential in this operation due to the strong connections the arrestee had with other terrorists based in Asia, Europe, and North America. The suspect is now in provisional detention after appearing before the judiciary.
Through his social media profiles, the detainee distributed and translated abundant jihadist content about terrorist activities in different settings and material suited for making explosives.
The operation began last year when agents observed signs of radicalization and the use of encrypted messaging platforms to publicly support the Daesh organization. Investigators have verified that his online activities were planned in a coherent and coordinated manner with a clear aim to recruit followers, gain real and effective support for Daesh, and broaden dissemination with numerous posts.
It was also noted that the detainee maintained strict operational security in his communications, employing tools that enabled online anonymity and clandestine activity, as well as the use of cryptocurrencies, suggesting possible links to terrorism financing.
The arrested individual had established contact with sympathizers of the jihadist cause from various continents to provide training and terrorist instruction. Noteworthy are the connections with jihadists recently detained in Canada and Sweden.
Las redes, nido de yihadistas
The Guardia Civil recalls that, generally, the propaganda activity allowed by the internet and social networks by terrorist groups forms the backbone of Western terrorism tension. In fact, it is one of the main strengths of the various jihadist organizations today, used to spread their radical ideology, recruit new adherents, and publicize their actions.
Following the arrest and the searches carried out, further diligences are ongoing to clarify the detainee’s involvement in possible international terrorist plots.
Since Spain raised its anti-terror alert to level 4 in 2015, the Guardia Civil has strengthened all investigations related to cyber activities that clearly support propaganda, recruitment, and financing structures relied upon by terrorist groups.
The investigation has been conducted by the Information Service of the Guardia Civil under the direction of the Central Court of Instruction No. 4 and the National Court Prosecutor, with participation from the Rapid Action Group and the Explosives Disposal and Police Dog units. The National Intelligence Center, the Swedish Security Service, the French Directorate General for Domestic Security, and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL) also contributed to the operation.