Madrid, Spain. Authorities have announced they have made a group of arrests upon a number of suspects involved in Islamic terrorist attacks across the European Union.
Today Spanish police have arrested nine suspected members of a jihadi group in connection with recent deadly attacks in Belgium and France. Police said the arrested were one Spaniard and eight Moroccans living in Catalonia, all aged between 30 and 40 years old.
A regional police spokeswoman said at least four of the detained terrorists are suspected of being linked to people arrested following the 2016 Brussels airport and subway attacks that killed 32 people and wounded 300 others.
Regional police spokesman announced on regional television that four of the detained were clearly members of the Islamic State group. The arrests could help solve investigations into attacks in France and Belgium according to anti-terrorism experts contacted.
The group was also being investigated for drug trafficking and other crimes incuding weapons sales, contract murders, bank robbery and terrorism. Police statements said police conducted 12 raids in five Spanish towns including the regional capital, Barcelona.
Spanish police have arrested some 200 suspected jihadi terrorists since Spain raised its national security alert to one step below the maximum in 2015. Because of it’s massive migrant and refugee problem, Spain is considered a popular destination for ISIS operation.