SPAIN/BARCELONA ARRESTS: SUSPECTED TERRORISTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000073 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018 TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL SP SUBJECT: SPAIN/BARCELONA ARRESTS: SUSPECTED TERRORISTS REPORTEDLY TARGETED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION REF: A. MADRID 54 ¶B. MADRID 61 MADRID 00000073 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Spanish media reports and our Mission contacts continue to reveal new information on the January 19 arrests in Barcelona of 14 suspected Islamist extremist terrorists (REFTEL A),and indicate that the terrorists were planning to conduct suicide bombings on bus and subway lines located near the heart of Barcelona's tourist areas. Post elements most closely involved with Spanish authorities on this investigation urge caution with regard to the Spanish media, which has been full of significant inaccuracies. Since the arrests, Post elements continue to keep Washington apprised with authoritative reporting via appropriate channels. As the investigation continues into the intentions of the Barcelona terrorist cell, it appears clear that the terrorists intended to attack the city's transportation system, but it is not clear how many suicide operatives were active, nor when the cell intended to strike. Spanish Judge Ismael Moreno is the lead investigative magistrate on the case and on January 23 ordered preventive detention for ten of the 14 suspects, accusing them of having links to Islamic terrorism. Eight of the ten stand accused of belonging to a terrorist group and possessing explosives material, and the other two were charged with membership in a terrorist group. Two of the individuals originally arrested were released on January 23 due to a lack of evidence, and another two were previously released by the Spanish Civil Guard (CG). Our contacts tell us that the four released do not appear to have anything to do with the alleged terrorist cell and were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when the police began their roundup of suspects. This has also been supported in the local press by statements from family members of some of the suspects. ¶2. (U) According to Judge Moreno's initial report released on January 23, the alleged terrorist cell had chosen three of its Pakistani members to conduct suicide attacks against Barcelona's public transportation system last weekend (January 18-20). However, Attorney General Conde-Pumpido said on January 24 that there were in fact six would-be bombers, and Interpol is reportedly looking for three suicide terrorists in Germany and France who are allegedly linked to the Barcelona cell. Also on January 24, Interior Minister Rubalcaba was more circumspect as to when the terrorists were set to strike, saying that the type and quantity of explosives found thus far suggests that the group may have still been in the planning stages. We can expect to see continued conflicting reporting in the days to come as the situation is still very fluid and Spanish authorities are racing to ensure that the entire threat from this cell has been disrupted. ¶3. (U) Spanish media reports that the following individuals were remanded to prison by Judge Moreno on January 23 (names as listed in Spanish): - Imram Cheema - Mohamed Shoaib - Mehmooh Khalib (these first three are alleged to have been the intended suicide bombers) - Marrof Ahmed Mirza (alleged spiritual leader of the group) - Mohammad Ayud Elahi Bibi (alleged organizational leader of the group) - Mohamed Tank - Qadeer Malik - Haffez Ahmed - Roshan Jamal Khan - Shaib Iqbal The Spanish furnished us with the names of the suspects shortly after the arrests and we sent back a corresponding Visas Viper notice (REFTEL B). //COMMENT// ¶4. (C) As we gather more information through press reports and contact with Spanish law enforcement officials, it is becoming clear that Spanish authorities disrupted an MADRID 00000073 002.2 OF 002 organized terrorist cell with the intent to cause mass casualties. These arrests are a victory for the Spanish CT apparatus and a victory for the U.S. and our European allies who are committed to the fight against international terrorism. Whether or not the terrorists planned to launch their attacks this past weekend is open to debate, but the Spanish assessment, which we share at this point, is that an attack was definitely coming. Spanish authorities therefore did very well to act when they did to disrupt the cell's planning. As it is not yet known if the entire operation was thwarted by the Barcelona arrests, Spanish security forces continue to interrogate the suspects in detention and follow subsequent leads in cooperation with their international counterparts. ¶5. (C) In the wake of the arrests, reports have surfaced in the press and from our various Mission agencies that suggest the overall effectiveness of this operation was hampered by continued turf battles and rivalries between Spain's law enforcement and security services. While we do not want to engage in Monday-morning quarterbacking, we note that the CNCA, Spain's NCTC equivalent founded precisely to eliminate internal stovepiping, has been virtually sidelined in the operation and its aftermath. Our understanding is that cooperation among Spanish security services still leaves much to be desired. Indeed, contradictory statements made by Catalan regional Counselor of the Interior, Joan Saura, who consistently downplayed the nature of the threat, indicates how little information was passed to Catalan regional authorities. Saura, whose portfolio includes regional security, is expected to be called to explain his statements in the regional parliament. The events of this past weekend highlight yet again the Islamist extremist threat emanating from Barcelona and the surrounding region, and argue for both increased levels of U.S. cooperation with our European allies in the fight against terror, and also continued intensified efforts on the part of this Mission and the USG interagency to engage with the Spanish government and impress upon them the necessity of more streamlined cooperation and information sharing in the fight against terrorism. AGUIRRE