Briefing
The Audiencia Nacional on 15 October 2026 closed the investigation into two women from Alcorcón who had been arrested by the Policía Nacional in May 2025. The case was handled by Juzgado Central de Instrucción Number Six; according to the courts, the investigating judge granted the prosecution’s request for sobreseimiento provisional (provisional dismissal). The decision reportedly states that the evidence available was insufficient to uphold the allegation that the accused had trained people to carry out specific attacks or systematically recruited others for the so-called Islamic State.
The arrests took place on 30 May 2025; at the time, the Ministerio del Interior described the Policía Nacional operation as the dismantling of a digital «academia de la yihad», targeting women and disseminating content through channels such as Telegram and WhatsApp with material relating to Dáesh . Several Spanish media outlets have since reported on the investigation into the two women and measures taken by the Audiencia Nacional, including the withdrawal of their passports and reporting requirements.
The dismissal decision lifts the reporting and contact restrictions previously imposed. The court emphasises the legally significant distinction between radical statements online and criminally relevant acts of planning or incitement: statements of opinion and propaganda are not automatically equivalent to criminal training for attacks.
The dismissal is provisional and does not amount to an acquittal at trial. The prosecution may ask for the investigation to be reopened if substantial new evidence emerges. The case continues to raise questions about the assessment of online radicalisation, the public communications of security authorities and digital threat assessment methods. Defence lawyers warn of the long-term damage to defendants’ reputations when police narratives cannot later be substantiated in court.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).