The arrest of a jihadist in Barcelona made possible by the support of the DGST
The Spanish Civil Guard arrested a suspected jihadist in Barcelona on December 19, 2024, following a counter-terrorism operation carried out with the crucial support of the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST). The individual, described as highly radicalized by the terrorist organization DAESH, was involved in the indoctrination of others and the preparation of attacks using chemical poisons. This arrest highlights the decisive role of the DGST in detecting and neutralizing terrorist threats before they materialize.
The individual, who used encrypted messaging platforms to recruit accomplices and conduct research on the manufacture of toxic substances, had close ties to a group of radicalized youths arrested in July during another joint operation between the Civil Guard and the DGST. These youths, influenced by DAESH’s violent ideologies, were neutralized before they could carry out their terrorist plans. Thanks to vital information provided by the DGST, Spanish authorities were able to identify and intercept this terrorist before he could cause destruction.
The DGST has repeatedly demonstrated its strategic role in the fight against terrorism. In cooperation with European security forces, particularly in Spain and France, it has contributed to dismantling several terrorist cells in the process of radicalization. Notable among these operations was the one on November 22, in Madrid, Ceuta, and Ibiza, where a DAESH-linked group plotting imminent terrorist attacks was neutralized. This exemplary cooperation between Moroccan and European intelligence services highlights the importance of international partnerships in countering transnational threats.
The arrest in Barcelona comes in the context of a global landscape where terrorist threats remain ever-present, but the vigilance of Moroccan authorities, in collaboration with their European counterparts, is essential to preventing devastating attacks. The DGST continues to play an indispensable role in providing crucial information that enables the dismantling of jihadist networks before they can strike. Through coordinated actions, Morocco and Spain, with the support of Europol, strengthen their partnership to ensure the safety of their citizens and contribute to the fight against global terrorism.