100 SPANISH NATIONALS JOIN ISLAMIC STATE

Madrid, 24 Safar 1436/17 December 2014 (MINA) – The Interior Ministry of Spain announced Tuesday that they arrested seven people within the framework of investigations on a secret cell believed to recruit women to join the Islamic State group (IS/ISIS) in Syria and Iraq.

Spanish Interior Ministry issued a statement saying their forces arrested four women (including a minor) and three men in Barcelona, Jibi, Melilla and Ceuta, as well as in the Moroccan city of Fneideq (2 km from Ceuta), ARA News quoted by Mi’raj Islmic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“The operation was carried out in collaboration with the Moroccan National Directorate of soil monitoring.”

The statement said that all the detainees are accused of being members in a network of women recruitment on behalf of the IS armed group.

Spanish security officials have announced mid-November that about 100 Spanish citizens have joined the ranks of the armed group in Syria and Iraq.

Security officials commented that although this number is relatively small in comparison with IS members from other European countries such as France, Britain and Germany, “but it raises the concerns of the Spanish government”, especially since most jihadists come from the Moroccan Ceuta and Melilla which are under the Spanish sovereignty.

According to observers of IS activities, the existence of such networks in European countries reflect the group’s strong capability to attract foreign fighters, despite the efforts of the international campaign to eliminate their power. (T/P001/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)