Two Sisters Arrested for Alleged Online Jihad Academy in Spain
Spanish police detain sisters accused of recruiting young women into extremist ideologies through social media.
On Monday, Spanish National Police detained two sisters aged 21 and 19 in Alcorcón, a town in the Madrid metropolitan area with a population of around 173,600.
The sisters are suspected of committing a crime of terrorist indoctrination by establishing an online 'jihad academy' aimed at recruiting young women, including minors, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
The suspects operated approximately 20 profiles across various social media platforms and messaging applications, amassing follower counts that sometimes exceeded 1,000.
They allegedly disseminated violent material produced by the Islamic State (ISIS).
The sisters presented themselves as strict defenders of Sharia law in their communications, and they praised an individual arrested in February 2024 for allegedly attacking several women in the Barcelona Metro, causing serious injuries to one of the victims.
They also referenced the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Judge Antonio Peña from the Audiencia Nacional has ordered the older sister’s provisional detention while the younger sister has been released under precautionary measures.
The investigation into the sisters began in 2024 when agents from the General Commissariat of Information (CGI), specialized in counter-terrorism, detected their indoctrination activities online.
Their findings revealed a structured approach on social media designed to attract Muslim girls interested in enhancing their understanding of Islam and the Quran.
They established channels on WhatsApp and Telegram with up to 1,000 subscribers, sharing ostensibly innocuous religious teachings that sometimes included rhetoric from radical Muslim leaders.
The sisters also maintained TikTok and Instagram profiles that they periodically turned on and off to evade security forces, where they posted violent material from ISIS or provided links for downloads, with these accounts reaching around 700 followers at times.
They used smaller WhatsApp chats with between four and 70 members to share openly radical messages, including expressions of a desire for martyrdom in jihad.
To facilitate their activities, the sisters utilized secure browsing software and advised their followers on how to avoid detection.
During a search of their home, law enforcement officials discovered substantial computer material and documents, including photo montages featuring the sisters with superimposed images of weapons.
The older sister, who managed the majority of the social media accounts, was also reportedly involved in indoctrinating youth at two mosques in the Madrid region, conducting classes on Islam for young women.
Video footage of these sessions, which emphasized specific daily conduct for attendees, was subsequently used to support a YouTube channel.
Sources involved in the investigation noted that the sisters practiced the most rigorous interpretations of Islam in their daily lives, eschewing music and adhering to strict clothing norms.
At the time of their arrest, the older sister was unemployed, having lost her job due to excessive time spent on social media, while the younger sister was attending secondary school.
Investigations indicate that the older sister began her indoctrination activities as early as 2023.
Police officials highlight that the arrest of these sisters reflects the increasing role of women in jihadism within Spain.
While most of the female detainees have been involved in recruitment, logistical support, or financing, other countries have seen detained women with plans for terrorist activities.
Research from an independent institute indicates that between 2001 and 2011, there were no women arrested in Spain for jihadism.
Currently, women represent nearly 12% of arrests.
As of the current year, Spanish security forces have detained 60 suspected jihadists domestically and assisted in the arrest of an additional 10 abroad, according to the latest official statistics on counter-terrorism efforts.
Spain is currently classified at level 4 for anti-terrorist alert, indicating a 'high risk' that has been in place since June 2015, within a scale of five levels.
The sisters are suspected of committing a crime of terrorist indoctrination by establishing an online 'jihad academy' aimed at recruiting young women, including minors, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
The suspects operated approximately 20 profiles across various social media platforms and messaging applications, amassing follower counts that sometimes exceeded 1,000.
They allegedly disseminated violent material produced by the Islamic State (ISIS).
The sisters presented themselves as strict defenders of Sharia law in their communications, and they praised an individual arrested in February 2024 for allegedly attacking several women in the Barcelona Metro, causing serious injuries to one of the victims.
They also referenced the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Judge Antonio Peña from the Audiencia Nacional has ordered the older sister’s provisional detention while the younger sister has been released under precautionary measures.
The investigation into the sisters began in 2024 when agents from the General Commissariat of Information (CGI), specialized in counter-terrorism, detected their indoctrination activities online.
Their findings revealed a structured approach on social media designed to attract Muslim girls interested in enhancing their understanding of Islam and the Quran.
They established channels on WhatsApp and Telegram with up to 1,000 subscribers, sharing ostensibly innocuous religious teachings that sometimes included rhetoric from radical Muslim leaders.
The sisters also maintained TikTok and Instagram profiles that they periodically turned on and off to evade security forces, where they posted violent material from ISIS or provided links for downloads, with these accounts reaching around 700 followers at times.
They used smaller WhatsApp chats with between four and 70 members to share openly radical messages, including expressions of a desire for martyrdom in jihad.
To facilitate their activities, the sisters utilized secure browsing software and advised their followers on how to avoid detection.
During a search of their home, law enforcement officials discovered substantial computer material and documents, including photo montages featuring the sisters with superimposed images of weapons.
The older sister, who managed the majority of the social media accounts, was also reportedly involved in indoctrinating youth at two mosques in the Madrid region, conducting classes on Islam for young women.
Video footage of these sessions, which emphasized specific daily conduct for attendees, was subsequently used to support a YouTube channel.
Sources involved in the investigation noted that the sisters practiced the most rigorous interpretations of Islam in their daily lives, eschewing music and adhering to strict clothing norms.
At the time of their arrest, the older sister was unemployed, having lost her job due to excessive time spent on social media, while the younger sister was attending secondary school.
Investigations indicate that the older sister began her indoctrination activities as early as 2023.
Police officials highlight that the arrest of these sisters reflects the increasing role of women in jihadism within Spain.
While most of the female detainees have been involved in recruitment, logistical support, or financing, other countries have seen detained women with plans for terrorist activities.
Research from an independent institute indicates that between 2001 and 2011, there were no women arrested in Spain for jihadism.
Currently, women represent nearly 12% of arrests.
As of the current year, Spanish security forces have detained 60 suspected jihadists domestically and assisted in the arrest of an additional 10 abroad, according to the latest official statistics on counter-terrorism efforts.
Spain is currently classified at level 4 for anti-terrorist alert, indicating a 'high risk' that has been in place since June 2015, within a scale of five levels.
Translation:
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