Spain Deports Convicted Jihadist Linked to 2017 Barcelona Terror Attacks

Spanish media have confirmed the information, specifying that Ben Iazza was expelled six months ago after the authorization granted by the National Court following the request of the national police who had requested in April 2023 the expulsion of the jihadist for his alleged participation "in activities that undermine national security".

Ben Iazza had been released in September 2021, after serving half of the eight-year sentence to which he had been sentenced by the National Court for his collaboration with the jihadist cell that carried out the attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils. This sentence was reduced at the end of 2023 to 18 months by the Supreme Court, which considered that the Moroccan had acted recklessly by lending his van to transport explosives.

To recall, three members of the jihadist cell had been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 8 to 53 years. Mohamed Houli had been sentenced to 53 years in prison, Driss Oukabir to 46 years and Ben Iazza to 8 years in prison. The latter has always denied collaborating with the terrorists. The Court of Appeal had reduced the sentences of the two terrorists by 10 years, bringing them down to 43 and 36 years in prison.