MADRID (Spain): Spanish police arrested at least 10 people, most of them Pakistanis, suspected of involvement in extremism during an operation in the north-eastern region of Catalonia on Wednesday, judicial sources said.
Police confirmed arrests had been made but did not give a number.
Operation
"An operation was launched against activists and several people were detained," a spokesman for Catalonia regional police said.
The Madrid judicial sources said the suspects were arrested "for terrorism" and most were of Pakistani origin.
Spanish police is of the view that they have arrested 10 people, mainly Pakistani nationals, who are suspected of providing logistical support in the past for terrorists outside of Spain.
Catalan regional police made the arrests Tuesday night and early Wednesday at an apartment and a warehouse in Barcelona.
Search of Two Places
A search of the two premises did not turn up weapons or explosives, indicating that the suspects were not preparing an imminent attack on Spain, a Catalan police spokesman said.
There was no immediate indication, officials in Madrid and Barcelona said, of any link of the suspects to the March-11 Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people and wounded more than 1,800.
The Catalan police spokesman said he thought such a link was unlikely.
The Suspects
The suspects came under scrutiny during a Catalan police investigation into organized petty crime involving the forgery of documents, credit cards, videos and DVDs.
But evidence later appeared that indicated the 10 might have provided financing, logistical support or other collaboration for radicals outside of Spain, said the police spokesman, who requested anonymity.
Assumptions
The time frame of this possible support may have been weeks or months ago, the spokesman said. He declined to discuss which groups might have received the aid or where they were located outside of Spain.
Investigators previously said that terrorists routinely use the proceeds from drug trafficking or forgery to finance their activities.
Recap
In addition to the investigation into the Madrid commuter train bombings, which authorities blame on Islamic terrorists, Spanish officials since the mid-1990s have been probing other terrorist activities in Spain.
In September 2003, a Spanish judge indicted 35 people, including Osama bin Laden, and also the suspected al-Qaeda leader in Spain, Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, for terrorist activities.
Some in that indictment, including Barkat Yarkas, were linked to the September 11 attacks in the United States.
The Pakistani Nationals
Few Pakistani nationals have been arrested to date in Spain on suspicion of Islamic terrorism. The National Court investigating magistrate coordinating the Barcelona arrests was Judge Ismael Moreno.
In the Madrid train bombing investigation, 55 people have been charged, although 17 remain in jail while those with lesser charges have been released. Many of the suspects in train bombings are Moroccans.
Pak Embassy Confirms
Foreign Office Spokesman, Masood Khan Wednesday said that Pakistan Embassy in Spain has confirmed the arrest of Pakistanis.
Talking to state-run television, he said, Pakistan's Embassy in Spain has made
contact with Spanish authorities including their foreign office, local police and courts and try to find out actual number of arrested Pakistanis and about charges leveled against them.
Pakistani embassy has asked for meeting with the prisoners.
"However, it cannot be find out that what charges have been levelled against them and whether they have any link with terrorism", he added.
According to informal information the persons have been arrested on the charges of credit cards, fraud and fake documents cases.
"We are waiting to receive factual information from the Spanish government and they have promised us to give these as early as possible", Khan added.
Source: Pakistan Times
Masked Spanish police officers detain a suspected radical Islamic militant in Mislata, near Valencia, Spain
Police officers carry boxes as they exit a building, after detaining suspected radical Islamic militants in Mislata, near Valencia, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009.
Police confirmed arrests had been made but did not give a number.
Operation
"An operation was launched against activists and several people were detained," a spokesman for Catalonia regional police said.
The Madrid judicial sources said the suspects were arrested "for terrorism" and most were of Pakistani origin.
Spanish police is of the view that they have arrested 10 people, mainly Pakistani nationals, who are suspected of providing logistical support in the past for terrorists outside of Spain.
Catalan regional police made the arrests Tuesday night and early Wednesday at an apartment and a warehouse in Barcelona.
Search of Two Places
A search of the two premises did not turn up weapons or explosives, indicating that the suspects were not preparing an imminent attack on Spain, a Catalan police spokesman said.
There was no immediate indication, officials in Madrid and Barcelona said, of any link of the suspects to the March-11 Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people and wounded more than 1,800.
The Catalan police spokesman said he thought such a link was unlikely.
The Suspects
The suspects came under scrutiny during a Catalan police investigation into organized petty crime involving the forgery of documents, credit cards, videos and DVDs.
But evidence later appeared that indicated the 10 might have provided financing, logistical support or other collaboration for radicals outside of Spain, said the police spokesman, who requested anonymity.
Assumptions
The time frame of this possible support may have been weeks or months ago, the spokesman said. He declined to discuss which groups might have received the aid or where they were located outside of Spain.
Investigators previously said that terrorists routinely use the proceeds from drug trafficking or forgery to finance their activities.
Recap
In addition to the investigation into the Madrid commuter train bombings, which authorities blame on Islamic terrorists, Spanish officials since the mid-1990s have been probing other terrorist activities in Spain.
In September 2003, a Spanish judge indicted 35 people, including Osama bin Laden, and also the suspected al-Qaeda leader in Spain, Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, for terrorist activities.
Some in that indictment, including Barkat Yarkas, were linked to the September 11 attacks in the United States.
The Pakistani Nationals
Few Pakistani nationals have been arrested to date in Spain on suspicion of Islamic terrorism. The National Court investigating magistrate coordinating the Barcelona arrests was Judge Ismael Moreno.
In the Madrid train bombing investigation, 55 people have been charged, although 17 remain in jail while those with lesser charges have been released. Many of the suspects in train bombings are Moroccans.
Pak Embassy Confirms
Foreign Office Spokesman, Masood Khan Wednesday said that Pakistan Embassy in Spain has confirmed the arrest of Pakistanis.
Talking to state-run television, he said, Pakistan's Embassy in Spain has made
contact with Spanish authorities including their foreign office, local police and courts and try to find out actual number of arrested Pakistanis and about charges leveled against them.
Pakistani embassy has asked for meeting with the prisoners.
"However, it cannot be find out that what charges have been levelled against them and whether they have any link with terrorism", he added.
According to informal information the persons have been arrested on the charges of credit cards, fraud and fake documents cases.
"We are waiting to receive factual information from the Spanish government and they have promised us to give these as early as possible", Khan added.
Source: Pakistan Times
Masked Spanish police officers detain a suspected radical Islamic militant in Mislata, near Valencia, Spain
Police officers carry boxes as they exit a building, after detaining suspected radical Islamic militants in Mislata, near Valencia, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009.
