Network Dismantled in Spain recruiting jihadists – El Universal (Venezuela)

Barcelona, ​​España.- The jihadist cell dismantled Wednesday in Catalonia had “the explicit intention” to commit an attack in this region, though officials say they no longer pose any danger because thirteen months had controlled the police.

As reported by the Interior responsible for the Catalan government, Ramón Espadaler, was an “operational, with proven willingness to attack in Catalonia” cell, which is also dedicated to recruit young Muslims to radicalise in jihadism and to send them to fight the Islamic State (EI) in Syria and Iraq, said Efe.

“It was a generic threat, but we detect an evolution of the group and their willingness to commit an attack here,” said Espadaler, who insisted that the cell was willing to make “concrete actions”.

The eleven detained in the operation, between 17 and 45 years old, five Spanish citizens -four of them converted to Islam five Moroccans and a Paraguayan also converted to Islam.

The head of the Catalan Interior highlighted “the police triple success” has performed this operation, since it has prevented the radicalization of young people in the metropolitan area of ​​Barcelona, ​​capital of Catalonia, has stopped sending jihadists to fight in Syria and Iraq, and has neutralized “the commission of a terrorist act in Catalonia”.

The cell, which is given by disjointed, is responsible for having sent last December to fight in Syria three young men, who were arrested when they were in Bulgaria, en route to Syria via Turkey.

Also, Espadaler explained that other person related to this cell is currently fighting in Iraq, incorporated in the ranks of EI.

According to the head of the Catalan government, the will of the cell attack in Catalonia was credited during the investigation, so for months that the organization was guarded by police.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police Catalan, Josep Lluís Trapero said that attracting jihadists from this network is not carried out mainly through social networks or mosques but for other less common routes, such talks.

Eight of the detainees, all men are accused of belonging to a criminal organization with terrorist aims, recruitment and indoctrination of others to be sent to fight in areas of conflict or to join the disjointed cell.

The other three arrested, one of which is a woman, are accused of incitement to terrorism cooperation with criminal organization with terrorist aims and cover-up.

In so far year, Spanish authorities arrested about forty suspected jihadists, especially in their enclaves in northern Morocco, Ceuta and Melilla, and in Catalonia, home to a third of the Muslim population in Spain and stage four operations in the last two months , AFP quoted.