Spanish national police, in a coordinated operation with Europol's counter-terrorism unit, have detained three suspected members of the proscribed neo-Nazi terrorist organisation, The Base, in the eastern province of Castellón. The arrests on 1 December 2025 have prompted a defiant response from the group's American leader, who is currently living in Russia.
Defiant Leader Signals Escalation
In a text message to the Guardian, Rinaldo Nazzaro, the founder and leader of The Base, framed the arrests as political persecution. He stated that such actions by governments were "further justifying our resistance to its hegemonic rule by any means necessary". This rhetoric underscores the group's ideology, which glorifies hyper-violence and models itself as an armed insurgency against the state.
The presence of this cell in Spain highlights how this American brand of extremism is being exported and popularised abroad. Experts have also raised serious concerns about potential links between Nazzaro, his group, and Kremlin spy agencies, suggesting they may be aiding broader Russian sabotage efforts in Europe.
A Well-Armed and Organised Cell
Counter-terrorism researchers expressed alarm at the level of organisation and the arsenal uncovered. "This cell was particularly serious," said Joshua Fisher-Birch, a researcher at the Counter Extremism Project. The cell operated a public Telegram channel, an unusual step for such groups, which they used to recruit members, share images of weapons training, and urge militant action.
Europol's press release showcased a significant weapons cache seized during the arrests. The haul included multiple firearms, a machine pistol, neo-Nazi paraphernalia, ammunition, combat knives, and shirts bearing the images of Adolf Hitler and Ted Kaczynski, the 'Unabomber'. European authorities confirmed the cell's leader was in direct contact with Rinaldo Nazzaro.
The Spanish cell's online activity, reviewed by the Guardian, included propaganda videos with automatic rifles, images of masked men holding the group's black flag in the Spanish countryside, and posts advocating for "calculated ruthlessness" and the creation of secluded, self-sufficient white communities.
Global Network and Kremlin Links
The Base has recently claimed responsibility for high-profile acts, including the July assassination of a Ukrainian officer in Kyiv. Its operations align with a pattern of Kremlin-linked sabotage across Europe, where Russian operatives are alleged to use far-right activists or criminal networks to target countries supporting Ukraine.
Nazzaro, a New Jersey native and former Department of Homeland Security analyst, has repeatedly denied being a Russian intelligence asset. However, his group's activities, such as offering bounties for assassinating Ukrainian figures, have intensified these allegations. He currently lives in St Petersburg with his family.
Despite a major FBI crackdown in the United States that led to over a dozen arrests, The Base remains active domestically while expanding globally. Analyst Steven Rai of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue noted that the Spanish case mirrors patterns seen in the US, where ideological belief is paired with paramilitary-style training and preparation for offline violence.
The arrests serve as a stark reminder of the transnational threat posed by violent, accelerationist far-right groups. Experts warn that law enforcement and online platforms must remain vigilant against the ideology and ecosystem that sustains organisations like The Base.
