10 Pakistanis Arrested in Barcelona on Terrorism Charges for Promoting Attacks

Barcelona:Spanish police have arrested 10 individuals in Barcelona on terrorism charges for promoting terrorist attacks. According to Spanish authorities, the arrested individuals are linked to a Pakistani extremist group. This follows the previous detention of 30 individuals earlier in the investigation.

The investigation revealed that the suspects were part of an organized criminal network that issued violent directives through messaging groups. The group’s operations were centered in Spain, with no foreign connections identified. The leader of the group is a 55-year-old Pakistani citizen.

A joint operation by the Spanish National Police and the Italian Police resulted in the arrests of 10 individuals in Barcelona and one person in Piacenza, Italy. The operation, carried out on the night of March 3, followed the arrest of 5 individuals in 2022 and 14 in 2023.

The 10 arrests on Monday took place in Montcada i Reixac, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Sabadell, and Santa Coloma de Gramenet. Investigations revealed that the group was linked to an extremist organization.

According to the police, the group was well-organized and hierarchical, involved in spreading violent messages against their opponents through messaging apps. Some members had begun identifying specific targets in Europe. Additionally, their posts praised individuals who carried out attacks in Europe and Pakistan under the pretext of blasphemy accusations.

The investigation also uncovered a messaging group, led by one of the arrested women, which was composed solely of women. This group’s purpose was not only to spread extremist ideology but also to identify potential targets for future actions.

Authorities confirmed that the arrested individuals were part of a terrorist organization that funded itself through donations from its members.

On Thursday, March 6, the 10 arrested individuals were presented before Central Investigation Court No. 6, where they faced charges of assisting terrorism, promoting extremism, financial support for terrorism, and recruitment. Investigations are also underway regarding their initial steps in identifying potential targets.