Spain: Suspected Islamic State recruiters arrested in Melilla

Event

Spanish and Moroccan police arrested four men accused of recruiting for the Islamic State (IS) in the Spanish enclave of Melilla, located in North Africa, on Tuesday, December 5. These arrests follow a previous detention of a 21-year-old man by Spanish police in Melilla, also accused of recruiting for IS, on November 21.

Context

The Spanish terrorist threat level is currently assessed at four (on a scale of one to five). The current threat level, declared in June 2015, indicates a "high risk" of a terrorist attack. It is believed that some 200 Spanish citizens have left to fight with IS, and there is an increasing concern that some could return to carry out attacks on Spanish soil. IS claimed responsibility for the attacks at Las Ramblas in Barcelona on August 17, 2017, in which a van ploughed into a crowd, killing 13 and injuring over 100 others.

Advice

Individuals in the area are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior or objects to the relevant authorities.