FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 93 - ENGLISH

11 ` Presence of members linked to the first cells dismantled in the 2000s/2010s. ` Geographical location. Due to its proximity to other European cities sus- ceptible to the phenomenon. Is there concern about certain areas or environments where radicalisa- tion seems to be more prevalent? Currently, we must approach the fight against terrorism from a global and delocalised perspective, where the cir- cumscription to certain areas or en- vironments is a scenario of interest, but one that is conditioned by various factors. The most decisive factor is un- doubtedly the consumption of online propaganda in any region of the world, generated from anywhere on the planet by multimedia producers affiliated with DAESH or Al Qaeda. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of minors detained for radicalisation. What are the main causes of this phenom- enon? Indeed, in recent years we have seen an increase in minors involved in radicali- sation processes, and a significant part of this phenomenon can be explained by continuous exposure to illegal content in the digital environment. Today, rad- icalisation mainly takes place online: social networks, messaging services and platforms with little moderation that young people access at a very early age. Both in Spain and in Europe as a whole — as reflected in Europol's Terrorism Situation and Trend Report — there has been an increase in the number of minors arrested for terrorism offences, almost always following processes of self-radicalisation that have taken place entirely on the internet. Organisations Terrorists and other extremist groups generate content specifically designed to attract young audiences: short vid- eos, emotional messages, memes, or high-impact material disseminated in spaces without effective filters. Added to this is the growing use of gaming ecosystems and immersive platforms, which are becoming places for socialisa- tion, training or recruitment, together with the proliferation of ultra-violent content that desensitises and facilitates subsequent manipulation. In the case of Spain, the profile of sec- ond-generation young people is par- ticularly noteworthy, with their highly advanced use of digital tools and, in some cases, difficulties in social inte- gration, which makes them more vul- nerable to these recruitment processes. Given this scenario, CITCO's National Unit for the Removal of Illegal Content on the Internet (UNECI) plays a funda- mental role as the competent authori- ty for enforcing Regulation 2021/784. This instrument allows for the imme- diate removal of propaganda, inciting materials or operational manuals cir- culating in the environments most fre- quented by minors, directly contribut- ing to curbing radicalisation processes in their earliest stages. What prevention and early detection measures are being implemented to prevent the radicalisation of minors? Prevention and early detection meas- ures against the radicalisation of mi- nors are based on the first pillar of our National Counter-Terrorism Strategy: PREVENT. This line of action prioritis- es attention to particularly vulnerable groups and, most notably, the protec- tion of minors. Within this framework, the National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Combating of Violent Radicalisation, coordinated by CITCO, establishes a comprehensive model for under- standing radicalisation processes and strengthening social resilience. Within this Plan, the Training sphere includes a specific plan aimed at providing front- line actors front-line actors—including teachers and professionals in the edu- cational environment—with practical tools for recognising early signs. Along the same lines, an agreement will soon be signed between the Secretary of State for Security and the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Prov- inces, aimed at strengthening special- ised training in all municipalities with Tutor Agent programmes. The aim is to provide educational centres and local administrations with the necessary re- sources to detect and manage possible cases of radicalisation as soon as possi- ble. In addition, any citizen can provide information through channels such as STOP-RADICALISMOS, the ALERT- COPS application or the telephone number 900 822 066. However, prevention today requires in- tervention in the space where most of these processes take place: the digital environment. That is why, since 2024, Spain has had UNECI. We work with very specific operational mechanisms, such as joint removal actions (Referral Action Days) coordinated by Europol. In 2025, several of these operations have focused on content specifically aimed at young people and the plat- forms they use. INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR OF CITCO NEWS