Rabat – Spanish police have arrested another terrorist suspect on account of his alleged relation with a terrorist stopped last week in a joint Moroccan-Spanish counterterrorism operation.
Spanish news outlet El Pais said that police are investigating whether the new suspect has contacted other terror suspects or acted as a “lone wolf,” a term security specialists use for terrorists with no links to established terror cells or organizations.
El Pais added that the police released the young suspect on parole.
Last week, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior announced that the national police and the Spanish and Moroccan intelligence services “carried out an anti-terrorist operation, which resulted in the arrest in Morocco of an alleged jihadist who planned to carry out an attack in Seville.”
Euro News reported that the first suspect was planning to carry out an attack during Easter celebrations in Seville.
Spain is one of the countries that share strong security cooperation with Morocco. The Spanish government has long lauded its partnership with Morocco, especially on matters of anti-terrorism and de-radicalization.
Following last week’ joint operation, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said that the counterterrorism cooperation with Morocco was “ an example to follow for other countries.”
Morocco’s foreign minister Nasser Bourita echoed his Spanish counterpart’s sentiment, acknowledging that the security cooperation between Morocco and Spain is “exemplary.”
