Police in Barcelona apprehended an 18-year-old Spaniard of Moroccan descent suspected of actively promoting terrorism online and maintaining connections with radical jihadists worldwide.
The arrest, which took place on March 16, was prompted by the youth’s alleged ties to the Islamic State (IS) group.
According to a statement from the Guardia Civil police, the individual had established “extensive connections” with other extremists across Asia, Europe, and North America.
Authorities initiated an investigation into the teenager’s activities early last year after observing his engagement with encrypted messaging platforms to express support for IS and his involvement in disseminating terrorist propaganda.
The decision to arrest him came after Swedish law enforcement detained four individuals suspected of planning an imminent attack and found links between them and the teenager.
“He had been in touch with them for some time, primarily online, exchanging terror manuals and discussing potential targets,” a source stated.
The teenager, residing with his family in Barcelona, utilized his online profiles to propagate jihadist content related to terrorist activities and bomb-making materials, as outlined in the police statement.
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