Spain Reveals the Emerging Profile of a New Generation of Terrorist Threats

2026

Spain Reveals the Emerging Profile of a New Generation of Terrorist Threats

In Europe, terrorists are becoming increasingly younger. At least, that is what the data in The Yearbook of Jihadist Terrorism 2025 indicates. The study explains that half of those arrested for terrorism in Spain were under 25 years old. These figures contrast with those from a few years ago, when the majority of detainees were between 32 and 38 years old. According to the Al Azahar Observatory for Combating Extremism, the downward trend in the age of extremists is a continental phenomenon, which may be related to the fact that virtual environments have become central arenas for ideological indoctrination, as well as a useful environment for the recruitment of vulnerable individuals.

Data shows that many activities associated with violent extremism now occur online, including self-radicalisation and communication with extremist networks. This fact helps explain why many of the detained youths were primarily involved in digital extremist activities before potentially moving toward more serious stages of involvement. Addressing this phenomenon requires comprehensive strategies that combine security measures with intellectual and educational prevention, as well as efforts to enhance digital literacy among young people, a task in which youth information workers are particularly essential.