At the beginning of the week in Huesca, police detained a 24-year-old local resident who, shortly after converting to Islam, attracted the close attention of law enforcement. The young man, who changed his name to Omar, worked as a security guard, but outside of work engaged in military-style training with mock weapons and showed interest in acquiring real firearms.
During a search of the apartment where he lived with his parents, police seized electronic devices, documents containing extremist content, and tactical vests similar to those used by the military. Investigators found that the detainee actively studied materials related to radical movements and maintained contact with individuals from conflict zones, including Syria.
Particular attention was drawn to his online activity: he visited themed forums, watched videos containing violent scenes, and listened to music glorifying extremism. In his correspondence, he expressed support for banned organizations and made no secret of his desire to go to a conflict zone.
Police also discovered that the detainee regularly visited natural areas for solo training sessions with pneumatic weapons and took part in recreational airsoft events. Despite working in security, he did not have a permit for firearms, which did not stop him from seeking ways to acquire them illegally.
Increase in detentions related to radicalism cases
Since the beginning of the year, more than ninety individuals suspected of ties to extremist groups have already been detained in Spain. If this trend continues, the number could surpass one hundred by the end of the year, setting a record for the past two decades. The intensified efforts by security services are linked to the escalation in the Middle East and concerns about possible attacks on Spanish territory.
A detention operation in Huesca became part of a broad campaign to identify and disrupt the activities of individuals prone to radicalization. Authorities note that modern technology and messaging apps greatly facilitate the spread of extremist ideas and the recruitment of new followers, requiring constant monitoring and rapid response.
