FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 95 - ENGLISH

13 NEWS SPAIN: A SUSTAINED THREAT AND REINFORCED MONITORING In 2025, Spain maintains counterte- rrorism alert level 4 out of 5, reflecting the persistence of an elevated risk. The main threat comes from transnational jihadism, especially in relation to foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and internal ra- dicalization processes. Authorities are closely monitoring 288 in- dividuals who traveled to conflict zones: 111 remain there, 72 have returned, and 105 have died. The return of these fighters represents one of the main challenges be- cause of their combat experience and their ability to act as catalysts for new networks. The report also highlights the growing influence of external factors, such as conflicts in the Middle East, which feed radicalization narratives in Europe. The war in Gaza, for example, has been ins- trumentalized by jihadist organizations to reinforce their propaganda, inciting individual actions in Western territory. DIGITAL RADICALIZATION, A NEW BATTLEFIELD One of the most worrying aspects is the role of technology in radicalization pro- cesses. Social media, encrypted messa- ging platforms, and the dark web have become key spaces for the spread of pro- paganda, recruitment, and operational instruction. In 2025, artificial intelligence added a new dimension to this threat. Extremist groups have begun using it to generate more sophisticated content, disinfor- mation, and propaganda materials tai- lored to different audiences. The use of video-game-inspired aesthetics or a pre- sence on gaming platforms reveals a clear focus on younger people. The National Unit for the Removal of Ille- gal Content (UNECI) has intensified its activity, with more than 14,300 notifica- tions for the removal of terrorist content in the digital environment. This figure illustrates both the scale of the problem and the institutional effort to contain it. FINANCING, INVISIBLE NETWORKS, AND NEW TOOLS Terrorist financing remains a key ele- ment in sustaining terrorism. Organi- zations combine traditional methods — such as kidnapping or extortion — with more sophisticated systems, including cryptocurrencies, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, and informal networ- ks such as hawala. In Spain, financing is mainly drawn from legal sources (salaries and savings), com- bined with opaque transfers and the use of NGOs or allegedly humanitarian cam- paigns to channel funds to conflict zones. Cooperation among intelligence services, security forces, and the financial sector is essential to detect these flows and neu- tralize the networks that support them. THE PRISON SYSTEM, AN AREA OF FOCUS Another critical space is the prison sys- tem. In Spain, 85 people are serving sen- tences for jihadist terrorism and 152 ordi- nary prisoners are being investigated for radicalization. Since 2022, 176 inmates linked to extremism have been released. The risk of radicalization in prison and of recidivism after release requires continued monitoring measures and specific reintegration programs. The diversity of profiles and the influence of radical leaders inside prisons com- plicate this task. HOMEGROWN TERRORISM: A RESIDUAL THREAT, BUT NOT A DISAPPEARED ONE Although organizations such as ETA have been dismantled, the report warns of the DÁESH, AL QAEDA AND AFFILIATES PRESENCE ` Map showing the presence of Daesh, Al Qaeda, and affiliates.