Spain: IS terror cell dismantled in Bilbao May 8

Event

On Tuesday, May 8, Moroccan security officials announced that the Moroccan Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), in a joint operation with Spanish counterterror services, neutralized an Islamic State (IS) cell in Bilbao and in the Moroccan city of Fnideq. According to local sources, three suspected terrorists were arrested on Tuesday in Fnideq and two suspects were apprehended by Spanish security forces in Bilbao.

Context

Spanish authorities currently assess the terrorist threat level 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 Spain are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior or objects to the relevant authorities.