Lorraine Williamson
Spanish police have arrested 14 people in a coordinated operation targeting Núcleo Nacional, a far-right organisation whose activities have attracted scrutiny over alleged extremist violence and hate offences. The raids took place on Friday, 6 November, and included searches at the group’s Madrid headquarters, with several prominent members reportedly among those detained.
Officers from the Policía Nacional’s General Information Commissariat searched ten premises across Madrid, Asturias, Guadalajara, Valladolid, Pontevedra, Burgos and Alicante. Investigators are examining suspected incitement to hatred, unlawful association and weapons possession as part of an inquiry being directed by a court in Gijón. The operation extended across several regions, reflecting the geographical reach of the investigation.
The initial arrest figure of 12 increased to 14 as police continued their work on Friday. According to Europa Press, seven of those detained are suspected of holding senior positions within Núcleo Nacional. The allegations remain under investigation, and no findings of guilt have been made.
Prominent members among those arrested
Among those reportedly detained are Núcleo Nacional spokesperson Iván Rico, far-right activist Isabel Peralta and Enrique Lemus, who has been associated with the organisation’s political activities. Their identities were reported by El País, which identified the judicial investigation as being based in Gijón, Asturias.
Seven suspects identified as possible members of the organisation’s leadership are expected to appear before an investigating judge on Sunday, 8 November. As of Saturday morning, no judicial decision concerning their detention or release had been confirmed. All those arrested are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Investigation follows disturbances in Gijón
The police operation is connected to disturbances in Gijón earlier this year, when several young people reported being assaulted during incidents associated with a far-right gathering in February. The events occurred near the Colegio de la Inmaculada and prompted an investigation into possible criminal offences. That inquiry subsequently expanded beyond Asturias, culminating in Friday’s searches across seven provinces.
Núcleo Nacional has also attracted controversy over gatherings near the Héroes de Simancas monument in Gijón, a site associated with the Spanish Civil War and the Franco dictatorship. Its activities have drawn criticism from political representatives and anti-racism campaigners concerned about extremist ideology and the potential for intimidation or violence. These wider controversies provide context for the organisation’s public profile but should not be confused with proven offences in the current investigation.
What is Núcleo Nacional?
Núcleo Nacional is an ultranationalist organisation that has organised demonstrations and political gatherings in several Spanish cities. Its activities have included anti-immigration protests and appearances at demonstrations opposing government policies, including protests outside the Socialist Party’s headquarters in Madrid during the controversy surrounding the 2023 amnesty legislation.
The organisation has promoted the concept of remigración, or remigration, a term used by sections of Europe’s far right to advocate the departure or removal of people with migrant backgrounds. As RTVE reports, the group has previously attracted police attention over suspected hate offences and public disorder. Those earlier incidents are separate from the allegations being examined in the latest investigation.
Núcleo Nacional is registered as an association, while a related political party operates under the name Noviembre Nacional, with Enrique Lemus identified as its president. The distinction matters because an association and a political party have different legal structures, although both operate within Spain’s constitutional framework. Registration does not prevent the authorities from investigating suspected criminal conduct by individuals connected with either organisation.
What legal action could follow?
Spanish law protects freedom of association and political expression, but those protections do not extend to criminal activity, including certain forms of incitement to hatred or violence. Courts may order the suspension or dissolution of associations where the necessary legal conditions are established, although such measures require judicial proceedings and cannot be assumed from an arrest operation.
Friday’s raids do not mean Núcleo Nacional has been banned, nor do they establish that the allegations against those detained have been proven. Investigators must present evidence through the judicial process, and any subsequent restrictions or penalties will depend on the court’s findings.
Investigation continues as court appearances approach
The investigation remains under judicial supervision in Gijón, with seven suspected senior members expected to appear before a judge on Sunday. The court may then consider whether further investigative measures, release conditions or continued detention are justified by the evidence presented.
For now, the operation represents a significant development in the authorities’ investigation of an organisation whose activities have generated controversy in several Spanish cities. The next important update will be the outcome of the judicial proceedings, which should provide a clearer picture of how the case will progress.