Anti-terrorist operation in Malaga highlights jihadist threats on European soil

Agents of the Rapid Action Group (GAR), an elite unit of the Guardia Civil, deployed on Friday an anti-terrorist operation in the neighbourhoods of Lagunillas and Victoria. 

According to sources of the investigation confirmed to the Diario Málaga Hoy, two men were arrested during the operation following the order of the Central Court of Instruction number 2 of the National High Court. One of them was of Moroccan nationality and the other was from Melilla.

The agents were deployed at the main entrances to calle Lagunillas and calle Victoria, which were cordoned off. In Victoria Street, however, transit was allowed at 15:30. 

The operation began shortly after 14:00, when several vehicles, including armoured vans of the GAR, stormed from the Plaza de la Merced and the Jardín de los Monos in the Lagunillas neighbourhood until they reached the target, supposedly a building in ruins in which some neighbours had observed movement of people inside for some days. 

According to police sources, the Guardia Civil requested the support of the local police, but only to act preventively.

After the arrests, some streets were freed up to allow people to pass through. This was the case of Lagunillas street, which was completely blocked until 17:00, when pedestrians and traffic were allowed to pass. However, it was not until the last hour of the afternoon that the blockade was completed.

This blockade greatly affected residents, who had to wait to be able to enter their homes. 

In different investigative media, it is believed that the Lagunillas operation could be part of an international operation. It is being investigated whether the two detainees are related to other recently arrested members of a jihadist terrorism cell.  In addition, further arrests are not ruled out, according to sources close to the operation.

The building where the two men were arrested is well known for being the usual place of choice for squatters, and for having suffered a fire last year. 

This was not the only anti-terrorist operation carried out this year. The operation began in 2021 with the so-called Operation Arbac which, in this first phase, led to the arrest in Barcelona of three alleged terrorist ex-combatants of the Islamic State (ISIS). In addition, this operation coincides with the arrest of 5 other people, thus producing the culmination of this important anti-jihadist operation, which results in the dismantling of this dangerous cell.