On April 1, Spanish authorities arrested three men in Barcelona suspected of building explosive-laden drones for Hezbollah, igniting fresh concerns about the group’s operations in Europe and

the growing threats faced by Jewish communities. As reported by Gabriel Colodro for The Media Line, the suspects were allegedly working just blocks away from Barcelona’s central synagogue and a Jewish school.

Investigators believe the drones were intended for use in conflict zones and may have been aimed at Israeli or Jewish targets. The arrests follow a July 2024 operation between Spain and Germany that uncovered a larger drone supply network linked to Hezbollah. Experts say these incidents point to a persistent Hezbollah presence in Europe, facilitated by weak law enforcement and a growing political tolerance for extremist groups.

Ángel Mas, president of Spanish watchdog organization ACOM, called the situation a dangerous turning point. “Hezbollah operatives walking the same streets as Jewish schoolchildren, building drones near synagogues—this is a wake-up call,” he said. Mas and others warn that antisemitism is being normalized under the banner of political protest, further endangering Jewish communities.

Colodro’s investigation also includes warnings from Jewish leaders and intelligence officials who say antisemitic sentiment has surged across Western Europe since the October 7 Hamas attacks. “It’s no longer just fringe voices,” said Ron Brummer of Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. “It’s in academia, media, and even among government ranks.”

The Barcelona case has become a chilling example of how terrorism and antisemitism are increasingly intertwined across Europe. Photo by  Fars Media Corporation, Wikimedia commons.