The CNI focuses its anti-terrorist action in the Maghreb, the Sahel, Syria and Iraq

Within the country, the security services focus on lone actors and self-radicalized cells

MADRID, 23 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish secret services have a wide network deployed abroad to detect any terrorist movement that could be a threat to Spain, with special attention in the areas of the Maghreb, the Sahel, Syria and Iraq.

Jihadist terrorism is considered a "priority" threat by intelligence agents due to its destabilizing capacity in large areas of the world, some of which are "of great interest" to Spain, and due to the possibility of terrorist actions being perpetrated in Spanish territory or against interests Spanish people.

For this reason, the National Intelligence Center (CNI) focuses its efforts on some of these areas, especially those where there are Spanish troops deployed, according to the 2022 annual National Security report, collected by Europa Press.

The document confirms that the organizations with the greatest capacity to carry out terrorists, through organized cells or by lone actors, continue to be Al Qaeda and Daesh. However, he points out that their ability to commit attacks "has decreased considerably" and with this "it is more difficult" for them to carry out actions "of complex execution."

In this situation, the most important threat is constituted by lone actors and self-radicalized cells or those influenced by jihadist ideology. Specifically, the security services highlight the specific profile of individuals who have not been able to travel to conflict zones and show their "impotence" by exhibiting a very radical ideology on social networks.

Another of the greatest dangers is constituted by foreign terrorist fighters and, especially, returnees; since they have acquired operational knowledge and experience in handling weapons, contacts and knowledge of routes. But in addition, they acquire a leadership position in their community.

According to the document, Spain has detected the presence in its territory of 21 of these returned terrorist fighters. Of them, nine are free and another twelve are serving a sentence in prison. In addition, there are another 98 who are still in the conflict zone and 102 have died.

National Security has also detected that the relevance of terrorist propaganda activity on the Internet and social networks is growing. Jihadist groups use these digital media to spread their ideology and signal to their followers which targets to attack.

Their activity is focused on the use of web pages and they also use online gaming platforms. In addition, after the elimination of numerous profiles on Telegram, they have turned to the cyberactivity of bots that multiply their messages.

As for financing, in Spain it has been produced preferentially through crowdfunding, both in cash and through social networks. These are funds that terrorist organizations later launder through organized crime.