Terrorism in Spain

Last updated

Terrorism in Spain has been committed by various groups and people.

Contents

History

There have been several phases of terrorism in Spain.

Spain was notably affected by a broader wave of anarchist terrorism that started in the late 19th century in Europe in connection to the notion of propaganda of the deed. Several of the perpetrators acting in Spain, such as Michele Angiolillo, Thioulouze, Tomás Ascheri or Girault, were actually foreign. Some of the terrorist attacks in this period include the 1893 Liceo bomb, the 1896 Corpus Christi bomb, or the magnicide of Cánovas del Castillo in 1897. [1] The botched assassination in Madrid of King Alfonso XIII at the Calle Mayor during his wedding left 33 casualties and many wounded. [2] Barcelona became infamous as fertile ground for bomb attacks in the early 20th century. [3] Bomb attacks started to fade within anarchism at the turn of the first decade of the century, giving place to new forms of political violence at a time anarcho-syndicalism became more disciplined and acquired more features of a mass movement along the decade, [4] with the practice of pistolerismo appearing in the conflict between employers and trade unions. Magnicides in the early 20th century linked to anarcho-syndicalist terrorism such as individual assassination of two Prime Ministers (Canalejas in 1912 and Dato in 1921), as well as the Archbishop of Zaragoza, Juan Soldevilla, in 1923, happened at a time of escalation of violence during the decadence of the Restoration regime. [5]

From 1961 to 2011, the Basque separatist group ETA carried out more than 3,300 attacks [6] with total deaths estimated to be 829 to 952. [7] During a similar period,[ citation needed ] far right terrorist groups were active, opposed to the Spanish transition to democracy. They caused from 66 to 95 deaths. [8] [9] [10]

In recent years, Al-Qaeda and then Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have been responsible for significant attacks in the country. This includes the single deadliest peacetime incident, the 2004 Madrid train bombings that killed 192 people.

Islamic terrorism

Jihadists were present in Spain from 1994, when an al-Qaeda cell was established. [11] In 1996, the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria (GIA), an organisation affiliated with al-Qaeda, founded a cell in the province of Valencia. [12] In the 1995–2003 period, slightly over 100 people were arrested for offences related to militant salafism, an average of 12 per year. [11]

In 2004, Madrid commuters suffered the 2004 Madrid train bombings, which were perpetrated by remnants of the first al-Qaeda cell, members of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM) plus a gang of criminals turned into jihadists. [11]

In the period 2004–2012, there were 470 arrests, an average of 52 per year and four times the pre-Madrid bombings average which indicated that the jihadist threat persisted after the Madrid attack. In the years after the Madrid attack, 90% of all jihadists convicted in Spain were foreigners, mainly from Morocco, Pakistan and Algeria, while 7 out of 10 resided in the metropolitan areas of Madrid or Barcelona. The vast majority were involved in cells linked to organisations such as al-Qaeda, the GICM, the Algerian Salafist group Group for Preaching and Combat which had replaced the GIA, and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. [11]

In the period 2013, jihadism in Spain transformed to be less overwhelmingly associated with foreigners. Arrests 2013–2017 show that 4 out of 10 arrested were Spanish nationals and 3 out of 10 were born in Spain. Most others had Morocco as a country of nationality or birth with its main focus among Moroccan descendants residing in the North African cities of Ceuta and Melilla. The most prominent jihadist presence was the province of Barcelona. [11] In 2013 and 2014 there were cells associated with Al-Nusra Front, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. [11]

In 2017, a terrorist cell based in the province of Barcelona carried out the vehicle-ramming 2017 Barcelona attacks, even if their original plans were on a larger scale. [11]

The 2023, Algeciras church attacks was treated as Islamic terrorism by the Audiencia Nacional. [13]

Deadliest attacks

The following is a list of terrorist incidents in Spain that resulted in at least ten deaths. It lists attacks on civilians by non-state actors that are widely referred to as terrorism. It excludes the periods of the Red and White Terrors during and after the Civil War.

Key: Group

   ETA    Jihadist    Anarchist   Other

DateIncidentCasualtiesPerpetrator
November 7, 1893 Gran Teatre del Liceu bombing 20+ killed, 40+ injured [14] Santiago Salvador Franch
June 7, 1896 Barcelona Corpus Christi procession bombing 12 killed, 44 injured [14] Anarchists (suspected)
May 31, 1906 Botched assassination of Alfonso XIII 30 killed, 100 injured [15] Mateo Morral Rocca
September 13, 1974 Cafetería Rolando bombing 13 killed, 71 injured [16] ETA
April 12, 1985 El Descanso bombing 18 killed, 82 injured [17] [18] Mustafa Setmariam (suspect)
July 14, 1986 Plaza República Dominicana bombing 12 killed, 32 injured [19] ETA
June 19, 1987 Hipercor bombing 21 killed, 45 injured [20] ETA
December 11, 1987 Zaragoza barracks bombing 11 killed, 88 injured [21] ETA
May 29, 1991 Vic bombing 10 killed, 44 injured [22] [23] ETA
March 11, 2004 Madrid train bombings 192 killed, 2,050 injured [24] [25] Al-Qaeda (suspected)
August 17–18, 2017 2017 Barcelona attacks 24 killed (inc. 8 perps.), 152 injured [26] [27] Islamic State (suspected)

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Madrid train bombings</span> Terrorist attack on Madrids suburban trains

The 2004 Madrid train bombings were a series of coordinated, nearly simultaneous bombings against the Cercanías commuter train system of Madrid, Spain, on the morning of 11 March 2004—three days before Spain's general elections. The explosions killed 193 people and injured around 2,050. The bombings constituted the deadliest terrorist attack carried out in the history of Spain and the deadliest in Europe since 1988. The attacks were carried out by individuals who opposed Spanish involvement in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

The Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, known by the French acronym GICM, was a Sunni Islamist militant organization that operated in Morocco, North Africa, and Western Europe. The organization's objective was to establish an Islamic government in Morocco.

The Batallón Vasco Español (BVE) sometimes associated with the Alianza Anticomunista (AAA), Antiterrorismo ETA or Triple A was a Spanish neo-fascist parapolice organization present mainly in the Basque Country and Southern France. It began operations in 1975, a year and a half after the murder of Luis Carrero Blanco by ETA and disbanded by April 1981. Some of its former members joined an organization formed not long after, known as the Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación. The use of violence by the BVE was reported by ETA and its allies, who identified it as violence committed directly by the Spanish government against the Basque population. Manuel Fraga, former interior minister who was in office when the BVE was formed, defended it by saying it was a group of mayors who self-defended because ETA was going after them but had no influence in the course of the events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asociación de Víctimas del Terrorismo</span> Spanish organization

The Association of Victims of Terrorism is a Spanish association created in 1981 by victims of terrorist attacks. Its members include those injured by ETA, GRAPO, the Provisional Irish Republican Army and Al Qaeda, as well as their families. It does not, however, include victims of extreme right Spanish groups such as GAL, Warriors of Christ the King and others. Its membership exceeds 6,000.

Salafia Jihadia is a Salafi Jihadist militant group based in Morocco and Spain. The group was allied with al-Qaeda and Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM).

Abu Dujana Al-Afghani, or Abu Nayaf al-Afghani was a claimed spokesperson for "Al-Qaeda of Europe" who demanded an end to Spanish support and involvement in the War on Terror. Abu Dujana claimed responsibility for the 2004 Madrid train bombings, as well as a failed train bombing the following month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reactions to the 2004 Madrid train bombings</span> Responses to the 2004 Madrid train bombing

Reactions to the 2004 Madrid train bombings are the various responses and actions from the Spanish government, the Spanish population and from international leaders in the wake of the terrorist attacks that occurred on 11 March 2004. The bombings caused massive demonstrations in Spain, with 11.4 million demonstrators expressing solidarity for the victims and demanding answers about the attacks. Initial attribution to ETA by the Spanish gouvernent was soon followed by suspicions of al-Qaeda involvement. The bombings had a global impact, with most world leaders condemning the attacks and expressing solidarity and support to Spain. Spain and other European countries subsequently took security measures and raised terror alerts.

The controversy regarding the handling and representation of the Madrid train bombings by the government arose with Spain's two main political parties, Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and Partido Popular (PP), accusing each other of concealing or distorting evidence for electoral reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Qaeda activities in Europe</span>

The international activities of Al-Qaeda includes involvements in Europe, where members of the group have been involved in militant and terrorist activities in several countries. Al-Qaeda has been responsible for or involved in attacks in Western Europe and Russia, including the 2004 Madrid train bombings, 2010 Moscow Metro bombings, 2011 Domodedovo International Airport bombing, and the January 2015 Île-de-France attacks.

On 12 April 1985, the El Descanso restaurant in Madrid, Spain was bombed in a terrorist attack. The explosion caused the three-story building to collapse, crashing down on about 200 diners and employees, killing 18 people, all Spanish citizens, and injuring 82 others, including eleven Americans working at the nearby Torrejón Air Base who frequented the restaurant. At the time it was the deadliest attack in Spain since the Spanish Civil War.

A bombing attack was carried out by the Basque separatist group ETA on 29 May 1991 when a car bomb carrying more than 200 kg of explosive was detonated inside the courtyard of a Civil Guard barracks in the Catalan city of Vic, Spain. The bombing killed 10 people, including five children, and injured 44 people.

A list of suspects and convictions related to the 2004 Madrid Train Bombings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zaragoza barracks bombing</span> Car bomb attack by the Basque separatist organisation ETA

A car bomb attack was carried out by the Basque separatist organisation ETA on 11 December 1987. A vehicle containing 250 kilograms (550 lb) of ammonal was parked beside the main Guardia Civil barrack headquarter in the city of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain; its subsequent explosion killed 11 people, including 5 children. Another 88 people were injured, the majority of them civilians.

Car bomb attacks were carried out by the armed Basque separatist group ETA in Madrid, Spain on 21 June 1993, killing 7 people and injuring a further 29. The target was an army vehicle transporting members of the army. The dead included four lieutenant colonels, a commander, a sergeant and the civilian driver of the vehicle. This was ETA's deadliest attack of 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabadell bombing</span>

A car bombing was carried out by the armed Basque separatist group ETA in Sabadell, Catalonia, Spain on 8 December 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrorism in Europe</span> Overview of terrorism in Europe

There is a long history of terrorism in Europe. This has often been linked to nationalist and separatist movements, while other acts have been related to politics, religious extremism, or organized crime. Terrorism in the European sections of the intercontinental countries of Turkey and Russia are not included in this list.

Far-right terrorism in Spain surged after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975 and continued until the early 1980s. The term refers to the actions undertaken by fascist and far-right groups who were against the changes taking place during the transition to democracy, and essentially dedicated to street violence against persons of other ideologies.

The Alianza Apostólica Anticomunista was a Spanish far-right paramilitary organisation active from 1976 to 1983, primarily in the southern Basque Country but also in the French Basque Country and Barcelona. A June 2010 report by the Office for Victims of Terrorism of the Basque Government attributed eight murders with 66 deathly victims to the group and linked it to the National Police Corps, SECED and the Civil Guard. The group attacked the satirical magazine El Papus in Barcelona, killing one person and injuring 17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Barcelona attacks</span> Terrorist attacks in Spain in August 2017

On the afternoon of 17 August 2017, 22-year-old Younes Abouyaaqoub drove a van into pedestrians on La Rambla street in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain killing 13 people and injuring at least 130 others, one of whom died 10 days later on 27 August. Abouyaaqoub fled the attack on foot, then killed another person in order to steal the victim's car to make his escape.

References

  1. ↑ Casanova, Julián (2005). "Terror and Violence: The Dark Face of Spanish Anarchism". International Labor and Working-Class History. 67 (67): 82. doi:10.1017/s0147547905000098. S2CID   146303092.
  2. ↑ Casanova 2005, p. 85.
  3. ↑ Casanova 2005, p. 84.
  4. ↑ Casanova 2005, pp. 86–87.
  5. ↑ Calvo Prat, David Manuel (2019). "Francisco Ascaso y Los Solidarios: una acción continuada". Aportes. XXXIV (99): 151–192. ISSN   0213-5868.
  6. ↑ "Datos significativos del conflicto vasco, 1968-2003". Eusko News (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  7. ↑ Núñez, Javier (21 February 2010). "Verdad eclipsada ('Eclipsed truth')" (in Spanish). Deia. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  8. ↑ Transición y represión política. Juan Manuel Olarieta Alberdi, Revista de Estudios Políticos , ISSN 0048-7694, Nº 70, 1990, pp. 225–262
  9. ↑ Aizpeolea, Luis R. (21 March 2010). "Reportaje - Las otras víctimas". El País . Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  10. ↑ Las otras víctimas de una transición nada pacífica. Gonzalo Wilhelmi. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Vidino; et al. (2018). DE-RADICALIZATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN – Comparing Challenges and Approaches (PDF). Milano: ISPI. pp. 24, 35–37. ISBN   9788867058198.
  12. ↑ Checa, A.; Rallo, A. (29 April 2007). "La célula de Al Qaida que atentó en Casablanca se gestó en Valencia". Las Provincias (in Spanish). Vocento . Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  13. ↑ Ortega Dolz, Patricia; López Fonseca, Óscar; Canas, Jesús A. (25 January 2023). "Un hombre mata a un sacristán y deja al menos cuatro heridos en un ataque con arma blanca en dos iglesias de Algeciras" [A man kills a sexton and leaves at least four wounded in a blade attack in two churches in Algeciras]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Terrorism in Barcelona and Its Impact on Spanish Politics 1904-1909", by J. Romero Maura, Past & Present 1968, 41:130-183
  15. ↑ Chaliand, Gérard; Blin, Arnaud (August 2007). The History of Terrorism: From Antiquity to Al Qaeda. University of California Press. ISBN   9780520247093.
  16. ↑ Ediciones El País (26 May 1979). "Atentado de la calle del Correo: un caso similar todavía no aclarado, El Pais, 27 May 1979". EL PAÍS. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  17. ↑ Aizpeolea, Luis R. (18 April 2010). "El atentado terrorista más olvidado". El País .
  18. ↑ "Al-Qaeda suspect linked to 1985 Madrid bombing" . Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  19. ↑ 25 años del atentado de la plaza de la República Dominicana, El Diario Montanes, 14 January 2017
  20. ↑ "Bomb explodes in Barcelona". Los Angeles Times. 19 June 1987. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  21. ↑ El País: Zaragoza: cinco ataúdes blancos 2 August 2009 accessed 14 January 2017
  22. ↑ "Timeline: Major ETA Attacks in Spain". Associated Press. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  23. ↑ elEconomista.es (13 June 2009). "Vic (Barcelona) recordará hoy a las víctimas del atentado de ETA en su casa cuartel - EcoDiario.es". ecodiario.eleconomista.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  24. ↑ "elmundo.es. Documento: Auto del 11-M".
  25. ↑ ZoomNews (in spanish) Archived 2015-03-15 at the Wayback Machine . The 192nd victim (Laura Vega) died in 2014, after a decade in coma in a hospital of Madrid. She was the last hospitalized injured person.
  26. ↑ "Barcelona attack: Suspected van driver shot dead by police". BBC. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  27. ↑ Burgen, Stephen (27 August 2017). "Spanish attacks death toll rises to 16 after woman dies in hospital". The Guardian . Retrieved 30 August 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.