Spanish Police Arrest 7 on Suspicion of Links to IS

MADRID (AP) —

Spanish police say they have arrested seven suspected members of a jihadi terror cell linked both to the Islamic State terror group and to Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists, during raids in the eastern provinces of Valencia and Alicante and in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta.

In a statement, police said the cell was well-organized and coordinated by a ringleader who ran a business that enabled him to ship containers with technological supplies, weapons and military equipment from Spanish ports to armed groups operating in Syria and Iraq. The cell is suspected of also supplying funds for IS and Jabhat al-Nusra and of money laundering, the statement said.

Police said they began investigating the suspected cell in 2014 and the arrests took place early Sunday. It said the investigation has uncovered evidence that those arrested provided “logistical support that was essential for the maintenance of terror activities” in Syria and Iraq. Four of those arrested have Spanish nationality but are of Syrian, Jordanian and Moroccan ancestry. Two others are Syrian and Moroccan nationals living in Spain.

The Interior Ministry later said a seventh suspect was arrested Sunday but did not give further details.

The investigation is being coordinated by Spain’s National Court in conjunction with state prosecutors and is ongoing.

 

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