I think Spain is attempting to keep their profile down due to the threat of Islamic Terrorist risks
Major Islamic Terrorist Attacks in Spain
The most significant Islamic terrorist attacks in Spain include the 2004 Madrid train bombings, the 2017 Barcelona and Cambrils attacks, and the 2023 Algeciras church attacks, with the threat evolving from Al-Qaeda to Islamic State-inspired cells.
1. 2004 Madrid Train Bombings (11-M)
The deadliest jihadist attack in European history occurred on March 11, 2004, when ten bombs exploded on four commuter trains in Madrid, killing 192 people and injuring over 2,000. The attack was carried out by a network of Islamist extremists, including members of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, inspired by Al-Qaeda. The cell was largely radicalized within Spain, and the attack was linked to Spain's involvement in the Iraq War.
2. 2017 Barcelona and Cambrils Attacks
On August 17–18, 2017, a terrorist cell based in Ripoll, Catalonia, carried out coordinated vehicle-ramming attacks. In Barcelona, a van plowed into pedestrians on Las Ramblas, killing 13 people and injuring over 100. Hours later, in Cambrils, another vehicle attack killed one person and injured several others. The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility. The attacks were part of a larger, foiled plot involving explosives, which were accidentally detonated in Alcanar the day before, killing key cell members, including the radicalizing imam Abdelbaki Es Satty.
3. 2023 Algeciras Church Attacks
In October 2023, a man attacked a Catholic church in Algeciras with a knife, injuring a priest and a woman. The attacker was shot and killed by police. Spain's High Court, the Audiencia Nacional, treated the incident as an act of Islamic terrorism, reflecting the ongoing threat from lone actors or self-radicalized individuals inspired by extremist ideologies.
Overall Muslim Population: The total Muslim population in Spain is estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 million, according to the Islamic Commission of Spain. This represents roughly 5-6% of the total population.