Spain police arrest members of Nucleo Nacional neo-Nazi group

Spanish National Police have conducted a coordinated operation against the neo-Nazi organization Nucleo Nacional, resulting in at least 12 to 14 arrests across seven provinces: Madrid, Asturias, Guadalajara, Valladolid, Pontevedra, Burgos, and Alicante.

The operation included raids on several locations, including the group’s central headquarters located in a gym in the Las Tablas neighborhood of Madrid. Among those detained are reportedly the group’s leader, Ivan Rico, and its ideologue, Isabel Peralta.

The investigation, coordinated by the General Information Commissariat and ordered by a court in Gijon, targets suspected involvement in hate crimes, unlawful association, and illegal weapons possession. The judicial proceedings stem from incidents in February in Gijon, where students reported being assaulted by members of the group during a protest regarding a local monument.

Nucleo Nacional is a far-right organization that gained prominence following protests against Spain’s amnesty law in late 2023. While the group has been legally registered as a civic-political association since August 2024, authorities are investigating its history of extremist activity and public disturbances.