The Spanish National Police arrested four migrant minors aged 14 to 17 from Elche last month on suspicion of links to jihadism, marking another alarming incident in a year that has seen 15 minors detained for terrorism-related activities.
The operation was launched after investigators identified concerning messages posted on social media by the teenagers. Authorities acted swiftly, arresting the suspects on Dec. 19 — just days before Christmas, a period of heightened security risks due to festive gatherings.
As reported by El País newspaper, the suspects, all of Moroccan origin, allegedly planned an attack targeting the Basilica of Santa María in Elche during its Jubilee Year celebrations. The basilica, a historical and cultural landmark, hosts El Misteri d’Elx, a UNESCO World Heritage medieval drama, attracting large crowds.
The arrests were made just two days before the scheduled reinforcement of anti-terrorist measures were implemented across major Christian landmarks in Spain. These measures are typically in force between Dec. 21 and Jan. 8 where places of interest can expect a heightened police presence.
The National Court has ordered the four African-born minors to be placed in a juvenile center in Madrid while the investigation continues.
One of the accused, a fourth-year secondary school student, reportedly showed no prior behavior that might have raised alarms among classmates or teachers, adding to the concerns over hidden radicalization.
The arrests in Elche come just days after a separate operation in Barcelona, where the Civil Guard detained a 19-year-old man in what was dubbed “Operation Kerkoporta.” Born in Melilla, the suspect is accused of attempting to indoctrinate others and seeking information on how to carry out mass poisoning using arsenic.
Experts warn of a growing trend of youth radicalization through online platforms, where extremist groups exploit vulnerabilities to indoctrinate and recruit individuals. This year alone, 15 minors have been arrested across Spain for terrorism-related offenses, sparking calls for urgent action to counter extremist propaganda and prevent radicalization.
“In many investigations, minors appear involved when this was not the case before,” a high-ranking Spanish police officer told El Confidencial.
Minors can serve a maximum of five years in a closed juvenile facility for such offenses, with a further three years of supervised release, while prison sentences can be extended to eight years for those 17 and over.
