Spanish police dismantle violent white supremacist terror cell

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) – Spanish authorities announced on Monday that they had dismantled a white supremacist terrorist cell linked to the neo-Nazi organization The Base.

Officials described the group as Spain’s first known “accelerationist” terrorist cell—a far-right movement that advocates violence to destabilize society and create a white ethnostate.

Three individuals, including the cell’s leader, were arrested, with police seizing weapons, ammunition, paramilitary training gear, and neo-Nazi propaganda.

The cell’s leader, now in custody, allegedly maintained direct contact with the U.S.-based founder of The Base, which is designated a terrorist organization in the EU, Canada, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. Spanish police noted that last month, the founder publicly urged supporters to strengthen international cells and carry out targeted attacks against Western democratic institutions.

The investigation began earlier this year when counterterrorism agents identified a man showing strong alignment with the group’s ideology. Authorities discovered he was part of a three-member cell whose members embraced accelerationist doctrine and were prepared to carry out violent attacks.

Officials said the suspects had already conducted paramilitary-style training sessions and used social media to recruit followers and share extremist content.

The Base was founded in 2018 by Rinaldo Nazzaro, a former US Pentagon contractor now residing in Russia.

According to the New Zealand National Security Board, the group has expanded from a primarily U.S.-based entity into a transnational network of largely autonomous violent cells.

Other alleged members of the organization have been arrested in Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium, authorities added.