Close collaboration between Rabat and Madrid led to arrest of seven suspected ISIS members in Spain

Spanish Civil Guard announced on Monday the arrest of seven suspected members of “Daesh” in security operations carried out in close collaboration with Morocco’s Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST).

Three suspects were apprehended in the province of Toledo thanks to intelligence provided by the DGST regarding a group of individuals at an advanced stage of radicalization, the Civil Guard said in a press release.

According to the investigation’s findings, one of the suspects exerted influence over his surroundings and spread jihadist propaganda, which was shared on social media by several supporters, including a minor who was also arrested as part of the operation.

Searches conducted during this operation, in which the DGST played a key role, led to the seizure of multimedia materials promoting terrorist organizations and acts of violence, particularly suicide attacks, the press release said.

Furthermore, operations carried out in the provinces of Pontevedra and Madrid resulted in the arrest of several suspects who had been concealing jihadist propaganda content in videos purporting to promote physical activity and self-defense techniques.

These operations, supported by the DGST, were conducted under the supervision of the Central Investigating Court, in coordination with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Spain’s National Court, and with the backing of Europol, with the aim of dismantling radicalization networks and preventing potential terrorist threats.