Spain Dismantles ISIS-Linked Terror Cell Planning Attacks in Europe

Active for several years on Spanish territory, a Moroccan national, presumed to be the leader of this cell, managed to recruit and indoctrinate in his country several young people who had planned terrorist attacks in the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates, according to the Spanish police in a statement. These young people had been arrested during several operations carried out by the DGST.

The operation carried out by the National Police Information Office, in collaboration with the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) of Morocco and the European police agency Europol, made it possible to locate this jihadist in Spain, to monitor his movements for more than a year. The investigation also revealed that this individual was a disciple of Abu Mohammed Al-Adnani. The latter was until his death the head of foreign operations of Daesh, its spokesman and its main official in Syria.

According to the same statement, the person in question, during his stay in Spain, resumed his recruitment activities of new members, and gathered a group of supporters who adhered to the takfirist ideology, the most radical current of jihadism. He also organized indoctrination meetings at his home and even went with his disciples to parties in neighboring towns, where they violently criticized Western customs, showing hatred towards the people who participated in them.

According to the same source, the presumed leader of this cell frequently watched videos of martyrdom and execution of attacks in Europe, such as the one against the French weekly Charlie Hebdo. He also expressed his hatred towards the security forces and expressed his desire to attack them in the exercise of their duties. Thanks to these direct threats, which have intensified in recent weeks, as well as the instructions given by Daesh to its followers through various publications, the Moroccan national, presumed leader of this four-member cell, was arrested with his followers, concludes the Spanish police.