Lorraine Williamson
Spain has taken decisive action against one of the most extreme strands of far-right ideology, dismantling what investigators describe as the country’s first accelerationist terror cell. Three men linked to The Base—a neo-Nazi network advocating the collapse of democratic institutions through violence—were arrested in the province of Castellón. The group’s leader has already been remanded in custody.
The operation, coordinated by the General Commissariat of Information and supported by Europol, marks a turning point in Spain’s counter-terror strategy. Until recently, the threat from accelerationist groups was largely associated with online activity. This investigation reveals, however, a shift from rhetoric to paramilitary organisation.
How the investigation began
Specialist officers first identified the group’s leader in early 2025. He was already deeply radicalised, openly committed to the ideology of The Base. Furthermore, he aligned himself with the group’s supremacist and accelerationist doctrine. As investigators monitored his behaviour, they uncovered a small but tightly bonded cell of three individuals who had built their lives around the organisation’s principles.
Police soon established that the suspects were not simply exchanging extremist material. They were preparing for real-world violence.
A cell ready to act
Over the course of the year, the men allegedly carried out a series of tactical training exercises using paramilitary-style equipment. Their social media activity revealed sustained attempts to recruit new members, glorify violence by other terrorist movements, and circulate accelerationist videos.
By late summer, the tone of their online posts had grown significantly more extreme. Officers observed the group encouraging violent actions and, in some cases, declaring outright that they were ready to carry out “selective attacks” in support of their cause.
What alarmed investigators further was the group leader’s direct communication with Rinaldo Nazzaro, the founder of The Base. Just weeks before the arrests, Nazzaro issued a call for internationally dispersed cells to consolidate and act decisively against Western democratic structures.
Combined with the weapons the men had begun stockpiling, authorities concluded an intervention could not wait.
The night of the operation
Shortly before dawn on 25 November, teams from the Policía Nacional moved in. Five coordinated searches were carried out in Castellón. This was supported by provincial information units and under the direction of the National Court’s prosecutor and Investigating Judge.
Inside the properties, investigators found a trove of weaponry and extremist material. Among the items seized were two firearms, nine additional training weapons, ammunition, and more than twenty bladed weapons. Officers also recovered full military-style tactical gear, propaganda from The Base, neo-Nazi paraphernalia, and documents praising other terrorist organisations.
The scale and type of equipment confirmed the group had moved beyond ideological commitment and was actively preparing for attacks.
A landmark case for Spain’s counter-terrorism efforts
This is the first time a far-right accelerationist cell has been dismantled in Spain. The operation reflects a broader European recognition of the dangers posed by movements that advocate the collapse of democratic systems through orchestrated violence.
Since 2024, The Base has been formally listed by the European Union as a terrorist organisation. Moreover, it is the first far-right entity to receive that designation. The group’s model relies on decentralised cells that train independently, remain clandestine, and prepare for what they describe as a coming “racial war”.
Europol analysts contributed throughout the Spanish investigation, providing intelligence, cross-checking data, and assisting during the operation itself.
Why this case matters
The dismantling of this cell exposes a shift in the landscape of far-right extremism in Spain. What was once largely confined to online forums has evolved into structured recruitment, real-world training, and the acquisition of weapons.
Authorities are continuing to investigate, but Spain’s swift action shows a willingness to tackle this form of terrorism with the same urgency long applied to jihadist or separatist threats. As Europe faces a rising tide of decentralised extremist networks, the Castellón arrests offer an indication of the vigilance required.
Record number of youth jihadists arrested in Spain in 2024