Spain is fast becoming the most explored country in the world by tourists. However, tourists are not the only ones who take notice of this beautiful, if somewhat politically torn country. It seems that the growing popularity of Spain around the world has also attracted the interest of a certain terrorist organization.
According to Spanish police authorities and countless news agencies around the world, the arrests of 14 Islamic terrorists on January 19, 2008 foiled a planned attack in the city of Barcelona. In addition, police report that some of these unidentified sleeper cell members had recently traveled to Pakistan to participate in an intensive Al Qaeda training camp. It is suggested that this terrorist plot was expected to rival the 2004 Barcelona train bombings which killed a total of 191 people.
Police are currently investigating and detaining these suspects in accordance with Spanish law which allows a suspect to be detained for a maximum of 72 hours without charge. It appears that Spanish police were alerted by Pakistani officials to the likelihood of an upcoming terrorist attack in the city of Barcelona, according to a report from The Newspaper of Catalonia.
The group had received orders from other terrorists living in Pakistan in the Waziristan region. Of the 14 detainees and members of a terrorist sleeper cell, 13 of them lived in Barcelona. Al Qaeda’s top brass are believed to have sent a man points to activate this terrorist sleeper cell and, as a result, incite this group to further action. Clearly, the arrival of man points in Spain from Pakistan reported the activation of this group. Tea man points acts as a liaison with Al Qaeda leaders.
On the optimistic side, with regard to global terrorism and police efforts to thwart such acts of destruction, it appears that law enforcement officials in Spain and France have equal access to information and thanks to prompt action following the Pakistani secret service notification people from Barcelona Spain are safe. These members of law enforcement are so well connected as members of Al Qaeda that they receive the information in time to arrest and detain this point man, resulting in the prevention of harm by the entire group. Clearly, this failure by members of Al Qaeda exemplifies the due diligence that countries around the world practice. Law enforcement and all counterterrorism agencies intend to prevent such events and acts of terrorism no matter where in the world the attack is planned, and as a result, they are working together. This foiled plot turned out to be Barcelona this time.
