The minor of Syrian origin detained for jihadism in Montellano (Seville) suffered express radicalization through social networks, according to the first steps of the investigation. Obsessed with military themes, with a clear animosity towards the LGTBI community and with deeply anti-Semitic ideas, this young refugee born in 2007 in the land where the Islamic State built the Caliphate went in just over two months from being a “cyber soldier” to plan an attack on his institute with explosives and shrapnel that he himself was making. The General Information Commissariat of the National Police prevented the tragedy last Sunday, when it was already rehearsing detonations before the “big day.”
The investigation began on November 15. A little more than a month had passed since the Hamas attack in Israel—and the subsequent reprisals in the Gaza Strip—and the Ministry of the Interior had ordered to reinforce anti-terrorist measures following the call by terrorist leaders to carry out “global jihad.” That day in mid-November, the National Police informed the National Court that the minor now detained had obtained several substances to make explosives. Specifically, glycerin, nitric acid and sulfur. In addition, there was evidence that he publicly expressed his support for the Islamic State. He was dedicated, as stated in the instruction documentation, that he displayed various jihadist material on his own mobile phone.
It is now known that two days before that alert call from the National Police, the minor participated in a workshop – organized by the Montellano city council – in which he showed several teenagers a video of a French lone wolf, author of a attempt. After the viewing, he told his fellow participants that he had made a homemade detonator with a mobile phone to activate it remotely, explaining to them that it acted by producing a spark when a call was made to the electronic device.
The detainee underwent a fairly express radicalization process. The researchers are aware of this after analyzing his publications on social networks over the past year. This is precisely the great concern that is troubling the State Security Forces and Bodies: the increase in minors who indoctrinate themselves on social networks. Through both Facebook and Instagram, he carries out all types of dissemination of terrorist content. The minor, according to the order of the National Court by which he was sent to a juvenile center for six months, had become a “cyber soldier” or “virtual jihadist.”
His radicalization has accelerated in recent weeks. If on November 18 he posted songs praising jihadist organizations; On December 17, he was already publishing tutorial videos on how to make explosives “in a homemade and easy way.” Only one day later a great qualitative event occurs: he broadcasts audiovisual material in which a suicide bomber appears who immolates himself in the name of Allah with a vehicle loaded with explosives.
The investigation was progressing. And the National Police followed the arrestee’s steps very closely. According to sources close to the investigation, the young man was scheduled to be detained today, Wednesday, January 23. But events were precipitated. Last Saturday the Police saw how the teenager threw two bags into the trash. The agents picked them up and found that they contained a blue and yellow cardboard box with the label “Powdered Sulfur,” a two-piece disposable protective mask, protective glasses, pieces of a T-shirt with a strong smell, jugs and insulating tape, among other elements.
A day later, last Sunday, the arrest was made. It was, as La Vanguardia reported, after police surveillance personnel detected that the minor left his home with a backpack to move to an open field. Once there, the police hear several detonations, which serves to confirm that the minor was testing how the explosives he was manufacturing work. At that time, the National Court is requested to enter and register.
The surprise came when the Police searched the home. The same sources explain that many of the canisters of explosives were on the desk in his bedroom; Instead of schoolwork he had chemical formulas. The agents found part of a bomb with shrapnel attached to it “ready for use”: it was only missing the explosive that would detonate it. Among the notes, the researchers found the recipe for the Mother of Satan, the composition that terrorists use to commit violent actions. They also found a cut-down canned food into which he had inserted pellets. This would have no lesser purpose than to cause the greatest harmful power. The pellets would act as shrapnel if the device had exploded.
It was not the only arsenal seized. Contrary to what was reported by the Government Subdelegation in Andalusia, where it was reported that no weapons had been found in the search, the truth is that the Police discovered a large machete, as well as a military tactical vest with a magazine holder. , plus a framed DAESH flag. A vest with which he was photographed, as shown in the images he kept on his mobile phone, the same one that he refused to hand over to the Police on the day of the search, making it difficult for the agents to obtain the keys to unlock it.