The Spanish Civil Guard, in collaboration with Morocco’s Territorial Surveillance Agency (DGST), arrested a jihadist described as a “dangerous extremist” in Barcelona last Sunday.
Investigations showed that the suspect was involved in propaganda activities for the ISIS terrorist organization, including researching the use of poisons as a method for carrying out terrorist attacks. The suspect conducted extensive research on acquiring and using chemical substances for potential attacks.
Media reports said that the arrested had been using encrypted messaging platforms to recruit potential collaborators and conduct research on poison manufacturing.
The arrested individual was also reportedly connected to eight young individuals previously detained in a coordinated Civil Guard operation in Melilla, Madrid, and Málaga. The group was under investigation for suspected ties to terrorist activities.
The reports added that the Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, interfered in the operation. Europol linked the suspect’s poison-related research to broader terrorist threats.
The arrest was part of an ongoing investigation led by Spain’s National Court, the country’s highest judicial body, which had ordered the suspect’s detention pending trial on charges of terrorism.