9 December 2005

MALAGA — Police on the Costa del Sol have arrested seven people suspected of financing the activities of Islamic terrorist groups.

The raids took place early on Friday in Malaga, Torremolinos and Marbella.

Last month, Spanish police arrested 10 suspects wanted for allegedly providing logistical support, including financing, to radical Islamic groups.

Spain's interior ministry linked the suspects from the November arrests to an Algerian-based radical Islamic organization, the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, which has been widely-linked to Al-Qaeda.

Spanish police have found links in the operation to Algerians living in Germany, the Netherlands, Britain and Denmark and officers have contacted relevant authorities in those countries to provide information about the investigation.

Cash has been raised to fund terrorist attacks through drug trafficking, forged credit cards and property and vehicle theft.

It was not clear if there was any connection between the suspects arrested in November and those detained on Friday.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news