On Monday, two Spanish sisters, aged 21 and 19, were apprehended in Alcorcón, a district in Madrid, by the National Police. They are accused of orchestrating terrorist indoctrination by establishing an online "Jihad Academy" aimed at targeting young women, including minors. This was revealed by the Ministry of the Interior on Friday.

The sisters managed around 20 profiles across various social media platforms and messaging apps, attracting up to 1,000 followers on certain accounts, where they disseminated violent content produced by the Islamic State (ISIS). In these profiles, they portrayed themselves as staunch advocates of sharia law and occasionally praised an individual arrested in February 2024 for serious assaults on multiple women in Barcelona's Metro.

Judge Antonio Peña from the National Court has ordered the older sister into provisional custody, while the younger one remains free under certain conditions. The investigation began in 2024 when officers from the General Information Police Station, specializing in anti-terrorism, noticed the sisters' activities online. They uncovered a structured social media approach to lure Muslim girls into extremist ideologies by exploiting their interest in Islam and the Quran.

They had channels on WhatsApp and Telegram, with up to 1,000 subscribers, spreading seemingly harmless religious teachings but occasionally introducing radical Muslim leaders' speeches. On a secondary level, they maintained profiles on TikTok and Instagram, which were periodically opened and closed to avoid detection, where they posted violent ISIS content or provided links for download, amassing up to 700 followers.

In smaller WhatsApp chats, with four to 70 members, they shared openly radical messages and expressed a desire for martyrdom in the name of jihad. They employed secure navigation software and instructed followers on avoiding detection. During a home search, police found substantial computer equipment and documents, including photomontages featuring the sisters with weapon images superimposed.

The older sister, responsible for managing most social media profiles, allegedly engaged in indoctrination at two Madrid province mosques, teaching Islam to other young women. Videos of these teachings were later used to populate a YouTube channel. Sources close to the investigation noted the sisters rigorously adhered to Islamic practices in daily life, including attire and leisure activities, avoiding music.

At the time of arrest, the older sister was unemployed, having been fired for spending work hours on social media, while the younger attended secondary school. Investigations unveiled that the elder sister began indoctrination activities in 2023. Police emphasize that the sisters' arrest highlights the growing role of women in jihadism in Spain, mainly in recruitment, logistical support, or financing.

According to the Real Instituto Elcano, from 2001 to 2011, no women were detained in Spain for jihadism. Today, women make up about 12% of arrests. This case underscores the evolving dynamics of female involvement in extremist activities within the nation.