Security Alert: Jihadist Groups Reportedly Call for Attacks During Protests in Portugal and Spain

Spanish authorities have reportedly detected calls from jihadist groups urging attacks on police officers and demonstrators participating in protests across several European nations, including Portugal.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Portugal’s Internal Security System (SSI) said it is closely monitoring the alert, with the Secretary-General maintaining constant liaison with relevant authorities regarding suspected jihadist calls for attacks on police and demonstrators, as reported to the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

According to El País, the Spanish Interior Ministry identified messages on a website believed to be linked to the Islamic State (IS) group, calling for attacks on police officers and demonstrators during ongoing protests across Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy.

Protests peaked last weekend amid a wave of violence in France, where buildings including Limoges City Hall and the Lyon tourism office were set alight and largely destroyed. Italy also experienced violent incidents, with arson attacks reported particularly in Milan.

In Portugal and Spain, daily protests and encampments in the squares of major cities—including Lisbon, Porto, and Madrid—have been predominantly driven by the cost-of-living crisis and housing shortages.

A Spanish daily reported obtaining an internal document from the Cybersecurity Coordination Office containing messages encouraging militants to exploit mass demonstrations and street clashes to carry out attacks.

According to El País, the organization of protests—with gatherings in France alone estimated to have drawn over 800,000 people last weekend—has been described as offering ‘a rare opportunity to attack them,’ with police becoming ‘easy prey during skirmishes with demonstrators.’

Jihadists are also reported to have provided practical guidance on carrying out attacks, calling for ‘martyrdom’ through suicide bombings or vehicle-ramming incidents.

Source link