Risk and protective factors in the radicalization process of the 17-A terrorist cell

Abstract

A key focus area for strengthening and enhancing the prevention and detection of violent radicalization processes lies in fostering a deeper understanding of their underlying mechanisms and contributing factors. To this end, a study was undertaken to identify the risk and protective factors associated with the violent radicalization process of the 17-A cell members responsible for the attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils on August 17 and 18, 2017. Using information from the archives of the Catalan Police – Mossos d’Esquadra (PG-ME), which informed the preparation of the ‘Ramblas Case’ report, a deductive-inductive analysis was performed to assess the presence or absence of these factors. Additionally, a network analysis was also conducted to determine the relationships among these factors. The findings revealed a predominance of risk factors, particularly psychological and attitudinal/subjective beliefs, over protective factors, such as sociodemographic and criminogenic variables. This imbalance hindered the prevention of radicalization within the cell. These findings offer valuable insights into the dynamics of radicalization, and lay the groundwork for future applied developments in risk assessment tools.