Southern Europe in May 2026: the most important developments in security
Southern Europe in May 2026 saw several violent incidents. On 19 May a shooting in southern Spain left at least two people dead and four injured. On 16 May a driver crashed a car into pedestrians in Modena, Italy, injuring eight people; bystanders tackled him and he is in custody, with authorities investigating the attack as a possible act of terrorism. Separately, an Italian teenager was re-arrested on a charge of recruiting for terrorism.
Organised crime drew the most police action. On 28 May Italian police broke up a money-laundering ring tied to the late Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro and seized more than 200 million euros in assets. Spain seized a record haul of cocaine from a ship in the Atlantic and 600 kg more after a car chase in Madrid, and six members of Tren de Aragua were arrested in Madrid. Italian prosecutors warned that the Albanian mafia is active across Europe. In Portugal, 15 more police officers were arrested in the Lisbon investigation into rape and torture. Two French adults were held until trial after two boys were abandoned by a road in Portugal.
In Greece, authorities investigated a Ukrainian-made naval drone found in a cave on an island and, a day later, seized a drone boat reportedly armed with explosives off Lefkada. Greece also approved buying two second-hand Italian frigates and advanced a deal for FREMM frigates. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called for rearmament and a final withdrawal of Italian troops from Baghdad.
The Gaza aid flotilla was also in the news. Israeli forces intercepted it near Cyprus on 18 May. An Italian member of parliament and a journalist returned to Italy and described Israeli brutality, and Rome prosecutors were considering charges of torture and sexual violence.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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