14 suspected Islamist radicals arrested in several Spanish provinces

The National Police have arrested 14 people suspected of links to jihadist terrorism. The investigation, which has been open for months and is still ongoing, has led to a macro-raid orchestrated by the National Police's General Intelligence Commissariat (CGI). The operation has taken place in several Spanish cities, with seven arrested in Barcelona, one in Lleida, one in Malaga, two in Gipuzkoa, two in Valencia and one in Logroño.

The detainees, of Pakistani origin, are said to have been radicalised and adhered to a fundamentalist interpretation of the Koran, according to police sources consulted by El País. However, while awaiting the 14 to be brought before the courts, no further details are known of an investigation which is being led by the judge of the Audiencia Nacional, Joaquín Gadea.

Several police operations have already taken place since the escalation of violence in Gaza between Israel and Hamas terrorists. It is one of the reasons - in addition to the numerous terrorist attacks that have taken place in European cities in recent weeks - that have led to a level four (out of five) terror alert. In fact, many neighbouring countries have already raised to the highest alert level, a possibility that is by no means ruled out in Spain.

Already on 27 October, police in Malaga arrested Kamal Afoullah, a 51-year-old Belgian citizen of Moroccan origin linked to the perpetrator of the Brussels jihadist attack, Abdesalem Lassoued. The latter's attack cost the lives of two Swedish fans who were in the capital for the Belgium-Sweden match, which was called off as a result of the terrorist act.

Europe is trying to armour itself against this series of attacks and Spain has taken a big step forward with this operation that could have more targets in its sights. The increase in tension in the Old Continent is creating new sources of radicalisation, as the arrest on 20 October by the CGI of four young men in the towns of Huetor-Tajar (Granada), Cubelles (Barcelona), Madrid and Toledo revealed. In this case, those arrested are accused of "self-education for terrorist purposes, indoctrination of third parties and glorification of terrorism".

For all these reasons, Spain, although it has not raised the terrorist alert level to five, has taken additional measures within level four. It has reinforced "security measures at certain particularly sensitive points throughout the national territory and increased anti-terrorist measures by the State Security Forces and Corps".

This decision was taken following the meeting of the Terrorist Threat Assessment Committee chaired by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, held in the middle of last month. It should be borne in mind that within level four of the terrorist threat, these meetings take place on a weekly basis, so a change in the alert level in the short term is not ruled out.