The security forces arrested Wednesday eleven people in the region of Catalonia, located in northeastern Spain, in an operation against a jihadist cell linked to the Islamic State (EI) , informed dpa sources of regional government.
The disjointed cell had the intent to commit an attack in Catalonia, said in press conference the head of the Catalan Interior, Ramon Espadaler, who added that was at all times controlled by the police and that there was no risk to the public.
The regional manager said it was an “operational, with proven willingness to attack in Catalonia” network that is also dedicated to recruit young Muslims to radicalise in Jihadism and send them to fight with the US in Syria and Iraq.
Those arrested ten men and one woman aged between 17 and 45, are accused of various crimes, including membership in a criminal organization purposes terrorists, according to the Catalan Department of Interior.
Five are Spaniards, five Moroccans and one Paraguayan. Both the latter as four of the Spaniards had converted to Islam.
The cell is responsible for the shipment to Syria of three young men last December, they were arrested when they were in Bulgaria, according to the department Catalan Interior.
Police records were made in the early today in several towns in the region, including Barcelona.
Catalonia is one of the places in the country where more operations have been carried out this year against jihadist terrorism. Since January were detained 29 people in addition to today’s arrests, the Spanish Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz said in an interview with the station Catalunya Radio.
“That shows that the risk exists (…) it can not lower our guard, “he said.
The national head of Interior also made statements that sparked the controversy in Catalonia, suggesting that the sovereignist process launched in the region to independence from Spain does not help in the fight against jihadism.
Fernández Díaz said one linked to Catalan nationalism and dedicated to the integration of immigrants foundation Nous Catalans, try to “catch” people in the Muslim community for the independence cause.
Since the regional government rejected the secessionist movement in Catalonia with “terrorist expressions” as relates jihadism.
“Mix or link religion or Islam with acts of terrorism and even independence seems outrageous, irresponsible and a lack of absolute criteria, “said” number two “of the government of Catalonia, Joana Ortega.
Fernández Díaz also told Catalunya Radio that most jihadist recruitment in Spain is done through the Internet, although the security forces guarding some suspicious mosques.
According to their data, of the more than 1,200 people in Spain, one hundred follows the line of Islam’s radical Salafism. Of these, half will be in Catalonia, said. (I)
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