Spain’s crackdown on ‘The Base’ marks a major turning point in Europe’s fight against far-right terror |
Spain’s recent disruption of a far-right terrorist cell linked to the organisation known as ‘The Base’ has sent shockwaves through Europe’s security community. The arrests-carried out on November 25 in coordinated police operations across Madrid and Valencia-underscore how far-right terrorism continues to evolve, becoming more networked, more international, and more ideologically aggressive. With the support of Europol, Spanish authorities apprehended three suspects who investigators say were highly radicalised, heavily armed, and embedded within a clandestine cell directly inspired by the organisation’s founder, Rinaldo Nazzaro.
Europol disclosed the operation’s details on December 1, emphasising that this was not merely a domestic policing action but a coordinated counterterrorism effort made possible through European intelligence-sharing mechanisms. The three-day operation involved five residential searches, resulting in the seizure of firearms, knives, ammunition, tactical equipment, extremist propaganda, and a trove of neo-Nazi material. The raids revealed a concerning level of preparation and ideological commitment among the suspects, suggesting that the cell was not at an early stage of radicalisation but rather in a phase of operational readiness.
Spanish investigators reported that the group had been conducting paramilitary-style training, including weapons drills and survival exercises, mirroring........