Spain holds eleven members of jihadist cell – El Universal (Venezuela)

Barcelona, ​​Spain .- Security forces on Wednesday arrested eleven people in the region of Catalonia, located in northeastern Spain, in an operation against a jihadist cell linked to the Islamic State (EI), sources with the regional government.

The disjointed cell had the intent to commit an attack in Catalonia, said at a press conference the head of the Catalan Interior Ramon Espadaler, who added that was at all times controlled by the police and there was no risk to the population, DPA reported.

The regional manager said that it was of an “operational, with proven willingness to attack in Catalonia” network that is also dedicated to attract young Islamists to radicalize 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 charged with various offenses including belonging to a criminal organization with terrorist aims, 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 delivery of three young Syria last December, who were arrested when they were in Bulgaria , according to the Catalan Department of Interior.

Police records were made in the early hours of Wednesday in several towns in the region, including Barcelona.

Catalonia is one of the places in the country where most operations have been carried out this year against jihadist terrorism. Since January were arrested 29 people, not counting the arrests Wednesday , said Spanish Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz, in an interview with the station Catalunya Radio.

“That puts shown 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 set in underway in the region for 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 between the Muslim community to the cause of independence.

Since the regional government rejected the secessionist movement in Catalonia with “terrorist expressions” as relates jihadism.

“Mix or religion or linking Islam with terrorism and even independence seems outrageous, irresponsible and a lack of absolute criterion number two “government of Catalonia, Joana Ortega.

Fernández Díaz,” the said ” also told Catalunya Radio that most of the recruitment of jihadists in Spain is done through the Internet, although the security forces guarding some suspicious mosques.

According to his data, of the more than 1,200 people in Spain, hundreds line remains the most radical Islam, Salafism. Of these, half will be in Catalonia, he said.