Spain had been spared dangerous terrorist attacks thanks to decisive tips provided by Morocco’s DGST – official

The newly appointed Commissioner General of Spain’s Intelligence, Javier Antonio Susin Bercero, has commended the high level of collaboration with Morocco, acknowledging that Spain has been spared dangerous terrorist attacks thanks to decisive and reliable tips provided by Morocco’s Security and Territorial Surveillance ((DGST).

The Spanish official, who chose Morocco for his first foreign visit, underscoring Morocco’s pivotal position in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, made the remarks during talks in Rabat Wednesday with Abdellatif Hammouchi, the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance (DGSN/ DGST).

The Spanish official also expressed his country’s wish to continue to benefit from the DGST’s support in confronting terrorism, particularly in a global context marked by escalating global complex security challenges. He highlighted the importance of bolstering joint operations and simultaneous arrests carried out by the two countries’ security services in radicalized circles in both Morocco and Spain, the DGST said in a press release.

Hammouchi and his Spanish counterpart held intensive talks on the assessment of terrorist risks and threats in the various hotbeds of tension around the world, notably in the Sahel and Sahara regions, as well as on the enhancement and reinforcement of joint operations to combat terrorism and violent extremism, the press release said.

Both sides reviewed the role that the DGST services can play in joint efforts on the occasion of the 2030 World Cup, jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, in particular the aspect relating to criminal intelligence, proactivity, and neutralization of all threats to public safety.

Discussions between the two parties were marked by common views on the imperative of enshrining and intensifying joint security cooperation mechanisms in various fields, including the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, so as to jointly address the security risks facing the two neighboring countries, the press release said.

This visit illustrates the advanced stage of the security partnership between Morocco and Spain, and reveals the growing demand for Morocco’s security model in the fight against terrorism and extremism.