In a coordinated transcontinental operation, Moroccan and Spanish security forces successfully dismantled a three-member terrorist cell affiliated with ISIS on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
The joint mission involved Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) and Spain’s General Information Commissariat, marking another significant milestone in the security partnership between the two Mediterranean nations.
The synchronized raids led to the arrest of two extremists in Tangier by special forces from the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST). Simultaneously, Spanish authorities apprehended the alleged cell leader in Mallorca. According to official statements, this “large-scale” operation was designed to neutralize immediate threats and disrupt extremist networks spanning both borders.
Initial investigations reveal a complex support structure. The individuals detained in Morocco are suspected of providing essential financing and logistical aid to ISIS branches operating in Somalia and the sub-Saharan Sahel region. Meanwhile, the cell leader in Spain is accused of plotting a “lone-wolf” style attack on Spanish soil.
The BCIJ highlighted that this intervention is the result of a long-standing strategic alliance, noting that the two countries have collaborated to dismantle over 30 terrorist cells since 2014. The suspects in Tangier remain in custody under the supervision of the public prosecutor’s office as investigators work to uncover the full extent of the group’s regional and international links.
AK/te/fss/abj/APA