The judge investigating Núcleo Nacional has ordered this Thursday the total cessation of activity of the neo-Nazi organization, the closure of its offices in Madrid, Burgos and Valladolid, and the blocking of its social media profiles. The decision comes six days after the police operation that ended with 14 arrests and amid an ongoing investigation into the group’s structure, its international connections, and its alleged involvement in violent actions.
The measure was agreed by the magistrate who leads the case in Gijón, where possible crimes of incitement to hatred, unlawful association, and illegal possession of weapons are being investigated. The suspension affects both Núcleo Nacional’s in-person activities and its dissemination of content via the internet.
The closure of the offices and the blocking of its accounts are added to the precautionary measures imposed on several of its members. Last Sunday, ten of those arrested were released on provisional liberty, although with the obligation to appear before the court weekly, the withdrawal of their passport, and the prohibition on leaving Spain.
An organization investigated for its "paramilitary" structure
The ruling comes after the magistrate described Núcleo Nacional as an organization of "paramilitary character", with a defined internal hierarchy and activity, according to the investigation, aimed at promoting hatred and violence for ideological reasons.
Police reports incorporated into the case include conversations between group members about the use of weapons, as well as contacts with foreign far-right organizations. They also point to trips to Ukraine to receive paramilitary training and to the recruitment of young people and minors to participate in violent activities.
During the searches carried out on November 6, officers seized bladed weapons, knuckle dusters, Taser pistols, and various materials used in training and mobilizations. The investigation also examines the possible involvement of members of Núcleo Nacional in assaults and attacks against people considered ideological adversaries.
Fourteen detainees and weapons seized in seven provinces
Last Friday’s police operation was carried out in seven provinces and resulted in five arrests in Madrid, three in Asturias, two in Valladolid and one in Guadalajara, Pontevedra, Burgos and Alicante, respectively. During the operation, twelve searches were carried out, including that of the organization’s central headquarters in Madrid.
According to the information provided by the National Police, the officers seized more than twenty firearms, ammunition, knives, tasers, extendable batons and shields, in addition to abundant propaganda material of supremacist ideology. The investigation attributes to the group activities aimed at vulnerable groups and people with opposing ideology.
The proceedings began as a result of violent incidents that occurred in Gijón and have allowed, according to the investigators, the reconstruction of an organized network that maintained contacts with like-minded groups in other countries. The case remains open and the criminal responsibilities of those investigated will have to be determined during the judicial process.