6 Dec, 2023 @ 11:56
2 mins read

Why is there a ‘high risk’ of terror attacks in the EU this Christmas? Warning from Brussels follows a series of Jihadist arrests in Spain

13 December 2018, France (France), Straßburg: A policeman is standing in the city centre after an attack in the area of the Strasbourg Christmas market. The anti-terror specialists of the Paris public prosecutor's office have taken over the investigation. Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

OFFICIALS in Brussels have warned there is a ‘high risk’ of terror attacks across Europe this Christmas. 

European Commissioner Ylva Johansson issued the warning this Tuesday, December 6. 

Ylva Johnasson warned against terrorism in a meeting of EU home secretaries this week. Photo: Cordon Press

She cited recent attacks throughout Europe including in Paris and Brussels, where two people died, as well as the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. 

The warning comes after a spate of arrests throughout Spain, where known Jihadists have been brought to justice. 

It includes the arrest of top Jihadi recruiter, Mustafa Maya in Melilla on October 23 and ‘Said B’, a Jihadist Tiktokker arrested in Barcelona for planning attacks on the Jewish and LGBT communities. 

In October, four individuals were also arrested as part of nationwide anti-terror efforts.

An anti-terror police officer stands guard in Strasbourg, France. Photo: Cordon Press


In the same month, it was revealed that Spain is on high alert for 12 known Jihadists in the country.

According to the Department for National Security, they represent ‘one of the biggest dangers and challenges’ in the struggle against terrorism.

The 12 Jihadists being monitored are classed as ‘returned foreign terrorist fighters’. This classification refers to someone who has ‘travelled away from their home state in order to commit, plan or participate in terrorist acts’.

In Spain, nine of these individuals are in prison, while 12 roam free.

The most recent Jihadist attack in Spain was at two churches in Algeciras, near the tourist mecca of the Costa del Sol, in January this year.

It followed a 2017 attack by an Isalmic terror group in Barcelona in which 15 people were killed and at least 136 injured. 

Reports from the Centre of Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Intelligence (CITCO) state that 15% of the most high risk terrorists are of Spanish nationality and 64% are Moroccan. 

Despite the concerns, Spain’s threat level has not been increased but reinforcements are now in place at ‘sensitive’ points like embassies and spaces associated with the Jewish community.

The country’s threat level currently stands at four, where it has been since 2015 following terror attacks in France.

However, it is reviewed by the ‘Terrorist Threat Level Committee’ on a weekly basis.

The level could rise to five if solid evidence of an upcoming terror attack arose. It would cause the Spanish army to be deployed in an effort to protect citizens. 

As well as citing terrorism concerns, Johansson also used the meeting of EU home secretaries, to advocate for a unified effort to tackle migration and refugee issues. 

This Thursday, officials will finally give the green light to a united EU migration policy. 

It comes after months of negotiation between member states but Spanish minister Fernando Grande Marlaska, is optimistic. 

He said: “It’s a very constructive environment, I think we’ll reach an agreement.” 

Migration has reached record highs in recent months, with 331,000 people entering the EU, 41,000 of which arrive in Spain.

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Yzabelle Bostyn

Yzabelle Bostyn is an NCTJ trained journalist who started her journalistic career at the Olive Press in 2023.
Before moving to Spain, she studied for a BA in English Literature and Hispanic Studies at the University of Sheffield.
After graduating she moved to the university’s journalism department, one of the best in the UK.
Throughout the past few years, she has taken on many roles including social media marketing, copywriting and radio presenting.
She then took a year out to travel Latin America, scaling volcanoes in Guatemala and swimming with sharks in Belize.
Then, she came to the Olive Press last year where she has honed her travel writing skills and reported on many fantastic experiences such as the Al Andalus luxury train.
She has also undertaken many investigations, looking into complex issues like Spain’s rental crisis and rising cancer rates.
Always willing to help, she has exposed many frauds and scams, working alongside victims to achieve justice.
She is most proud of her work on Nolotil, a drug linked to the deaths of many Brits in Spain.
A campaign launched by Yzabelle has received considerable support and her coverage has been by the UK and Spanish media alike.
Her writing has featured on many UK news outlets from the Sun to the Mail Online, who contracted her to report for them in Tenerife on growing tourism issues.
Recently, she has appeared on Times Radio covering deadly flooding in Valencia.

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