Concern is growing in Spain over the rise in youth radicalization cases. A recent arrest in Melilla highlighted that even after serving prison sentences, some individuals continue recruiting for terrorist organizations. This incident underscores the ongoing need for monitoring and reviewing measures to prevent extremism, particularly among vulnerable groups.
According to El Pais, officers from the Information Commissioner of the National Police detained a 40-year-old Spaniard who had already been convicted of similar crimes in 2018. After his release in 2023, he resumed seeking out young Muslim women, including minors, using social networks to make contact. Investigators found that he portrayed himself as a victim of the system to elicit sympathy and gain the girls’ trust.
Methods and scale
The investigation, which also involved the Centro Nacional de Inteligencia (CNI), revealed that the suspect operated according to an established pattern. He first found girls aged 18 or 19, and sometimes younger, online. He then invited them to meet in person, where he used psychological pressure and religious guidance to encourage support for radical ideas. The girls were shown videos featuring ISIS and Al-Qaeda members, as well as footage of attacks, to strengthen his influence.
During a search of his home, police seized electronic devices and paper documents, which are currently being analyzed. As El Pais reports, the detainee is once again at the center of law enforcement attention for allegedly attempting to recruit young women into extremist activity. Judge Santiago Pedraz of the National Court has ordered him into custody on charges of belonging to a terrorist group, promoting terrorism, and training others.
Women in new recruitment schemes
According to RUSSPAIN.COM, twenty people suspected of links to jihadist groups have already been detained in Spain this year. Particularly concerning is the growing number of women, mostly young, who are being targeted for recruitment. A study by the Observatorio Internacional de Estudios sobre Terrorismo (OIET) confirms that in recent years the number of detained women has consistently held at about eight per year, with half of them under 25 years old. This indicates that women’s involvement in extremist networks is no longer an exception but has become a stable trend.
In Spain, women are most often recruited for logistical support, financing, or recruitment roles, although in other countries there have already been cases of women preparing independent attacks. Police emphasize that these evolving schemes require new approaches to prevention and threat detection. It is important to note that in recent years, law enforcement agencies have stepped up cooperation with educational and religious organizations to detect early signs of radicalization.
Context and consequences
The Melilla incident is not the first time former inmates have returned to their previous activities. This raises questions about the adequacy of rehabilitation and post-release monitoring measures. A surge in similar cases is prompting authorities to review their counter-extremism strategies, placing special emphasis on youth and women. Notably, other regions in the country have also reported attempts to recruit young people into radical groups, underscoring the nationwide nature of the problem.
Amid these developments, other significant changes are taking place in Spain’s security system. For example, in Lleida a woman was recently appointed police chief for the first time following a series of high-profile scandals—a major step toward renewing personnel policy and strengthening trust in law enforcement. Read more about this appointment in the article about the changes in the leadership of the Lleida police.
In recent years, Spain has faced new challenges in domestic security. Just in the past two years, several networks recruiting via the internet and messaging platforms have been exposed. In 2025, large-scale operations in Madrid and Barcelona led to the arrest of suspects accused of preparing terrorist attacks and financing extremist groups. These events show that the threat of radicalization remains relevant, and recruitment methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated and targeted at young people.
