Spain says it has cut pipeline to Iraq rebels
By Renwick McLean International Herald Tribune
THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2005
iht.com
MADRID The Spanish Interior Ministry said Wednesday that the police had arrested 16 people on charges of involvement with Islamic terrorism, including 11 men suspected by the police of having worked for a network that provided recruits for the insurgency in Iraq.
Spain, which is described by terrorism experts here as a major logistical center for Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Europe, was not thought to be a significant supplier of fighters for the Iraq insurgency.
But the announcement on Wednesday suggests that the flow through Spain of recruits to Iraq may be heavier than previously estimated, at least publicly.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the 11 men, most of them Moroccans and Algerians, had recruited Islamic fighters for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the militant leader who is America's most wanted man in Iraq, and for Ansar al-Islam, a group of mostly Kurdish guerrillas who are suspected of collaborating with Zarqawi.
"The activities of this Islamist network centered on the recruitment and sending of jihadists to Iraq with the goal of committing suicide terrorist activities against the coalition forces," the ministry statement said.
Officials asserted that the network appeared to have been directed from Syria, although its activities were largely financed locally through drug trafficking, document fraud and robbery.
The ministry also announced Wednesday that the police had arrested five more suspects in the 2004 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and wounded at least 1,000. That attack, which Spanish investigators say was carried out by Islamic militants with ties to Al Qaeda, has led to the arrests of more than 100 people and the jailing of about 25.
In describing the men suspected of ties with the insurgency in Iraq, the Interior Ministry's statement said that several had already vowed to carry out suicide attacks in the name of Islam, a fact that "highlights the extreme radicalism and the danger of most of those arrested in this operation."
The statement also suggested that the men were prepared to carry out attacks before reaching Iraq, and perhaps even before leaving Spain. "Several members," it said, were "willing to commit a suicide terrorist act as soon as the leaders of the organization ordered it."
The main focus of these and other recruits, however, was to assist Zarqawi and Ansar al-Islam, the ministry said.
Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for scores of suicide bombings, assassinations and other attacks in Iraq, is suspected of filling his ranks with a significant number of recruits from outside Iraq.
Most of the fighters are thought to come from Arab countries, but the arrests in Spain indicate that Europe is involved too.
Spanish intelligence officials have known that channels for sending Islamic fighters to Iraq have existed in Spain since soon after the insurgency began.
But the flow of recruits through these channels - generally through London, Iran or Afghanistan - was minimal, at least until recently, said a government official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about intelligence matters.
Spain's national court is also prosecuting 24 people accused of forming or aiding a Qaeda cell in Madrid. Three of the suspects are also charged with helping to plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
The trial, which began in April, is expected to produce a verdict by the end of July.
MADRID The Spanish Interior Ministry said Wednesday that the police had arrested 16 people on charges of involvement with Islamic terrorism, including 11 men suspected by the police of having worked for a network that provided recruits for the insurgency in Iraq.
Spain, which is described by terrorism experts here as a major logistical center for Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Europe, was not thought to be a significant supplier of fighters for the Iraq insurgency.
But the announcement on Wednesday suggests that the flow through Spain of recruits to Iraq may be heavier than previously estimated, at least publicly.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the 11 men, most of them Moroccans and Algerians, had recruited Islamic fighters for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the militant leader who is America's most wanted man in Iraq, and for Ansar al-Islam, a group of mostly Kurdish guerrillas who are suspected of collaborating with Zarqawi.
"The activities of this Islamist network centered on the recruitment and sending of jihadists to Iraq with the goal of committing suicide terrorist activities against the coalition forces," the ministry statement said.
Officials asserted that the network appeared to have been directed from Syria, although its activities were largely financed locally through drug trafficking, document fraud and robbery.
The ministry also announced Wednesday that the police had arrested five more suspects in the 2004 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and wounded at least 1,000. That attack, which Spanish investigators say was carried out by Islamic militants with ties to Al Qaeda, has led to the arrests of more than 100 people and the jailing of about 25.
In describing the men suspected of ties with the insurgency in Iraq, the Interior Ministry's statement said that several had already vowed to carry out suicide attacks in the name of Islam, a fact that "highlights the extreme radicalism and the danger of most of those arrested in this operation."
The statement also suggested that the men were prepared to carry out attacks before reaching Iraq, and perhaps even before leaving Spain. "Several members," it said, were "willing to commit a suicide terrorist act as soon as the leaders of the organization ordered it."
The main focus of these and other recruits, however, was to assist Zarqawi and Ansar al-Islam, the ministry said.
Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for scores of suicide bombings, assassinations and other attacks in Iraq, is suspected of filling his ranks with a significant number of recruits from outside Iraq.
Most of the fighters are thought to come from Arab countries, but the arrests in Spain indicate that Europe is involved too.
Spanish intelligence officials have known that channels for sending Islamic fighters to Iraq have existed in Spain since soon after the insurgency began.
But the flow of recruits through these channels - generally through London, Iran or Afghanistan - was minimal, at least until recently, said a government official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about intelligence matters.
Spain's national court is also prosecuting 24 people accused of forming or aiding a Qaeda cell in Madrid. Three of the suspects are also charged with helping to plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
The trial, which began in April, is expected to produce a verdict by the end of July.
MADRID The Spanish Interior Ministry said Wednesday that the police had arrested 16 people on charges of involvement with Islamic terrorism, including 11 men suspected by the police of having worked for a network that provided recruits for the insurgency in Iraq.
Spain, which is described by terrorism experts here as a major logistical center for Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Europe, was not thought to be a significant supplier of fighters for the Iraq insurgency.
But the announcement on Wednesday suggests that the flow through Spain of recruits to Iraq may be heavier than previously estimated, at least publicly.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the 11 men, most of them Moroccans and Algerians, had recruited Islamic fighters for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the militant leader who is America's most wanted man in Iraq, and for Ansar al-Islam, a group of mostly Kurdish guerrillas who are suspected of collaborating with Zarqawi.
"The activities of this Islamist network centered on the recruitment and sending of jihadists to Iraq with the goal of committing suicide terrorist activities against the coalition forces," the ministry statement said.
Officials asserted that the network appeared to have been directed from Syria, although its activities were largely financed locally through drug trafficking, document fraud and robbery.
The ministry also announced Wednesday that the police had arrested five more suspects in the 2004 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and wounded at least 1,000. That attack, which Spanish investigators say was carried out by Islamic militants with ties to Al Qaeda, has led to the arrests of more than 100 people and the jailing of about 25.
In describing the men suspected of ties with the insurgency in Iraq, the Interior Ministry's statement said that several had already vowed to carry out suicide attacks in the name of Islam, a fact that "highlights the extreme radicalism and the danger of most of those arrested in this operation."
The statement also suggested that the men were prepared to carry out attacks before reaching Iraq, and perhaps even before leaving Spain. "Several members," it said, were "willing to commit a suicide terrorist act as soon as the leaders of the organization ordered it."
The main focus of these and other recruits, however, was to assist Zarqawi and Ansar al-Islam, the ministry said.
Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for scores of suicide bombings, assassinations and other attacks in Iraq, is suspected of filling his ranks with a significant number of recruits from outside Iraq.
Most of the fighters are thought to come from Arab countries, but the arrests in Spain indicate that Europe is involved too.
Spanish intelligence officials have known that channels for sending Islamic fighters to Iraq have existed in Spain since soon after the insurgency began.
But the flow of recruits through these channels - generally through London, Iran or Afghanistan - was minimal, at least until recently, said a government official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about intelligence matters.
Spain's national court is also prosecuting 24 people accused of forming or aiding a Qaeda cell in Madrid. Three of the suspects are also charged with helping to plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
The trial, which began in April, is expected to produce a verdict by the end of July.
MADRID The Spanish Interior Ministry said Wednesday that the police had arrested 16 people on charges of involvement with Islamic terrorism, including 11 men suspected by the police of having worked for a network that provided recruits for the insurgency in Iraq.
Spain, which is described by terrorism experts here as a major logistical center for Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Europe, was not thought to be a significant supplier of fighters for the Iraq insurgency.
But the announcement on Wednesday suggests that the flow through Spain of recruits to Iraq may be heavier than previously estimated, at least publicly.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the 11 men, most of them Moroccans and Algerians, had recruited Islamic fighters for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the militant leader who is America's most wanted man in Iraq, and for Ansar al-Islam, a group of mostly Kurdish guerrillas who are suspected of collaborating with Zarqawi.
"The activities of this Islamist network centered on the recruitment and sending of jihadists to Iraq with the goal of committing suicide terrorist activities against the coalition forces," the ministry statement said.
Officials asserted that the network appeared to have been directed from Syria, although its activities were largely financed locally through drug trafficking, document fraud and robbery.
The ministry also announced Wednesday that the police had arrested five more suspects in the 2004 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and wounded at least 1,000. That attack, which Spanish investigators say was carried out by Islamic militants with ties to Al Qaeda, has led to the arrests of more than 100 people and the jailing of about 25.
In describing the men suspected of ties with the insurgency in Iraq, the Interior Ministry's statement said that several had already vowed to carry out suicide attacks in the name of Islam, a fact that "highlights the extreme radicalism and the danger of most of those arrested in this operation."
The statement also suggested that the men were prepared to carry out attacks before reaching Iraq, and perhaps even before leaving Spain. "Several members," it said, were "willing to commit a suicide terrorist act as soon as the leaders of the organization ordered it."
The main focus of these and other recruits, however, was to assist Zarqawi and Ansar al-Islam, the ministry said.
Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for scores of suicide bombings, assassinations and other attacks in Iraq, is suspected of filling his ranks with a significant number of recruits from outside Iraq.
Most of the fighters are thought to come from Arab countries, but the arrests in Spain indicate that Europe is involved too.
Spanish intelligence officials have known that channels for sending Islamic fighters to Iraq have existed in Spain since soon after the insurgency began.
But the flow of recruits through these channels - generally through London, Iran or Afghanistan - was minimal, at least until recently, said a government official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about intelligence matters.
Spain's national court is also prosecuting 24 people accused of forming or aiding a Qaeda cell in Madrid. Three of the suspects are also charged with helping to plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
The trial, which began in April, is expected to produce a verdict by the end of July.
MADRID The Spanish Interior Ministry said Wednesday that the police had arrested 16 people on charges of involvement with Islamic terrorism, including 11 men suspected by the police of having worked for a network that provided recruits for the insurgency in Iraq.
Spain, which is described by terrorism experts here as a major logistical center for Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Europe, was not thought to be a significant supplier of fighters for the Iraq insurgency.
But the announcement on Wednesday suggests that the flow through Spain of recruits to Iraq may be heavier than previously estimated, at least publicly.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the 11 men, most of them Moroccans and Algerians, had recruited Islamic fighters for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the militant leader who is America's most wanted man in Iraq, and for Ansar al-Islam, a group of mostly Kurdish guerrillas who are suspected of collaborating with Zarqawi.
"The activities of this Islamist network centered on the recruitment and sending of jihadists to Iraq with the goal of committing suicide terrorist activities against the coalition forces," the ministry statement said.
Officials asserted that the network appeared to have been directed from Syria, although its activities were largely financed locally through drug trafficking, document fraud and robbery.
The ministry also announced Wednesday that the police had arrested five more suspects in the 2004 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and wounded at least 1,000. That attack, which Spanish investigators say was carried out by Islamic militants with ties to Al Qaeda, has led to the arrests of more than 100 people and the jailing of about 25.
In describing the men suspected of ties with the insurgency in Iraq, the Interior Ministry's statement said that several had already vowed to carry out suicide attacks in the name of Islam, a fact that "highlights the extreme radicalism and the danger of most of those arrested in this operation."
The statement also suggested that the men were prepared to carry out attacks before reaching Iraq, and perhaps even before leaving Spain. "Several members," it said, were "willing to commit a suicide terrorist act as soon as the leaders of the organization ordered it."
The main focus of these and other recruits, however, was to assist Zarqawi and Ansar al-Islam, the ministry said.
Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for scores of suicide bombings, assassinations and other attacks in Iraq, is suspected of filling his ranks with a significant number of recruits from outside Iraq.
Most of the fighters are thought to come from Arab countries, but the arrests in Spain indicate that Europe is involved too.
Spanish intelligence officials have known that channels for sending Islamic fighters to Iraq have existed in Spain since soon after the insurgency began.
But the flow of recruits through these channels - generally through London, Iran or Afghanistan - was minimal, at least until recently, said a government official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about intelligence matters.
Spain's national court is also prosecuting 24 people accused of forming or aiding a Qaeda cell in Madrid. Three of the suspects are also charged with helping to plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
The trial, which began in April, is expected to produce a verdict by the end of July.
MADRID The Spanish Interior Ministry said Wednesday that the police had arrested 16 people on charges of involvement with Islamic terrorism, including 11 men suspected by the police of having worked for a network that provided recruits for the insurgency in Iraq.
Spain, which is described by terrorism experts here as a major logistical center for Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Europe, was not thought to be a significant supplier of fighters for the Iraq insurgency.
But the announcement on Wednesday suggests that the flow through Spain of recruits to Iraq may be heavier than previously estimated, at least publicly.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the 11 men, most of them Moroccans and Algerians, had recruited Islamic fighters for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the militant leader who is America's most wanted man in Iraq, and for Ansar al-Islam, a group of mostly Kurdish guerrillas who are suspected of collaborating with Zarqawi.
"The activities of this Islamist network centered on the recruitment and sending of jihadists to Iraq with the goal of committing suicide terrorist activities against the coalition forces," the ministry statement said.
Officials asserted that the network appeared to have been directed from Syria, although its activities were largely financed locally through drug trafficking, document fraud and robbery.
The ministry also announced Wednesday that the police had arrested five more suspects in the 2004 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and wounded at least 1,000. That attack, which Spanish investigators say was carried out by Islamic militants with ties to Al Qaeda, has led to the arrests of more than 100 people and the jailing of about 25.
In describing the men suspected of ties with the insurgency in Iraq, the Interior Ministry's statement said that several had already vowed to carry out suicide attacks in the name of Islam, a fact that "highlights the extreme radicalism and the danger of most of those arrested in this operation."
The statement also suggested that the men were prepared to carry out attacks before reaching Iraq, and perhaps even before leaving Spain. "Several members," it said, were "willing to commit a suicide terrorist act as soon as the leaders of the organization ordered it."
The main focus of these and other recruits, however, was to assist Zarqawi and Ansar al-Islam, the ministry said.
Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for scores of suicide bombings, assassinations and other attacks in Iraq, is suspected of filling his ranks with a significant number of recruits from outside Iraq.
Most of the fighters are thought to come from Arab countries, but the arrests in Spain indicate that Europe is involved too.
Spanish intelligence officials have known that channels for sending Islamic fighters to Iraq have existed in Spain since soon after the insurgency began.
But the flow of recruits through these channels - generally through London, Iran or Afghanistan - was minimal, at least until recently, said a government official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about intelligence matters.
Spain's national court is also prosecuting 24 people accused of forming or aiding a Qaeda cell in Madrid. Three of the suspects are also charged with helping to plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
The trial, which began in April, is expected to produce a verdict by the end of July.
MADRID The Spanish Interior Ministry said Wednesday that the police had arrested 16 people on charges of involvement with Islamic terrorism, including 11 men suspected by the police of having worked for a network that provided recruits for the insurgency in Iraq.
Spain, which is described by terrorism experts here as a major logistical center for Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Europe, was not thought to be a significant supplier of fighters for the Iraq insurgency.
But the announcement on Wednesday suggests that the flow through Spain of recruits to Iraq may be heavier than previously estimated, at least publicly.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the 11 men, most of them Moroccans and Algerians, had recruited Islamic fighters for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the militant leader who is America's most wanted man in Iraq, and for Ansar al-Islam, a group of mostly Kurdish guerrillas who are suspected of collaborating with Zarqawi.
"The activities of this Islamist network centered on the recruitment and sending of jihadists to Iraq with the goal of committing suicide terrorist activities against the coalition forces," the ministry statement said.
Officials asserted that the network appeared to have been directed from Syria, although its activities were largely financed locally through drug trafficking, document fraud and robbery.
The ministry also announced Wednesday that the police had arrested five more suspects in the 2004 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and wounded at least 1,000. That attack, which Spanish investigators say was carried out by Islamic militants with ties to Al Qaeda, has led to the arrests of more than 100 people and the jailing of about 25.
In describing the men suspected of ties with the insurgency in Iraq, the Interior Ministry's statement said that several had already vowed to carry out suicide attacks in the name of Islam, a fact that "highlights the extreme radicalism and the danger of most of those arrested in this operation."
The statement also suggested that the men were prepared to carry out attacks before reaching Iraq, and perhaps even before leaving Spain. "Several members," it said, were "willing to commit a suicide terrorist act as soon as the leaders of the organization ordered it."
The main focus of these and other recruits, however, was to assist Zarqawi and Ansar al-Islam, the ministry said.
Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for scores of suicide bombings, assassinations and other attacks in Iraq, is suspected of filling his ranks with a significant number of recruits from outside Iraq.
Most of the fighters are thought to come from Arab countries, but the arrests in Spain indicate that Europe is involved too.
Spanish intelligence officials have known that channels for sending Islamic fighters to Iraq have existed in Spain since soon after the insurgency began.
But the flow of recruits through these channels - generally through London, Iran or Afghanistan - was minimal, at least until recently, said a government official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about intelligence matters.
Spain's national court is also prosecuting 24 people accused of forming or aiding a Qaeda cell in Madrid. Three of the suspects are also charged with helping to plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
The trial, which began in April, is expected to produce a verdict by the end of July.
MADRID The Spanish Interior Ministry said Wednesday that the police had arrested 16 people on charges of involvement with Islamic terrorism, including 11 men suspected by the police of having worked for a network that provided recruits for the insurgency in Iraq.
Spain, which is described by terrorism experts here as a major logistical center for Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Europe, was not thought to be a significant supplier of fighters for the Iraq insurgency.
But the announcement on Wednesday suggests that the flow through Spain of recruits to Iraq may be heavier than previously estimated, at least publicly.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the 11 men, most of them Moroccans and Algerians, had recruited Islamic fighters for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the militant leader who is America's most wanted man in Iraq, and for Ansar al-Islam, a group of mostly Kurdish guerrillas who are suspected of collaborating with Zarqawi.
"The activities of this Islamist network centered on the recruitment and sending of jihadists to Iraq with the goal of committing suicide terrorist activities against the coalition forces," the ministry statement said.
Officials asserted that the network appeared to have been directed from Syria, although its activities were largely financed locally through drug trafficking, document fraud and robbery.
The ministry also announced Wednesday that the police had arrested five more suspects in the 2004 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and wounded at least 1,000. That attack, which Spanish investigators say was carried out by Islamic militants with ties to Al Qaeda, has led to the arrests of more than 100 people and the jailing of about 25.
In describing the men suspected of ties with the insurgency in Iraq, the Interior Ministry's statement said that several had already vowed to carry out suicide attacks in the name of Islam, a fact that "highlights the extreme radicalism and the danger of most of those arrested in this operation."
The statement also suggested that the men were prepared to carry out attacks before reaching Iraq, and perhaps even before leaving Spain. "Several members," it said, were "willing to commit a suicide terrorist act as soon as the leaders of the organization ordered it."
The main focus of these and other recruits, however, was to assist Zarqawi and Ansar al-Islam, the ministry said.
Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for scores of suicide bombings, assassinations and other attacks in Iraq, is suspected of filling his ranks with a significant number of recruits from outside Iraq.
Most of the fighters are thought to come from Arab countries, but the arrests in Spain indicate that Europe is involved too.
Spanish intelligence officials have known that channels for sending Islamic fighters to Iraq have existed in Spain since soon after the insurgency began.
But the flow of recruits through these channels - generally through London, Iran or Afghanistan - was minimal, at least until recently, said a government official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about intelligence matters.
Spain's national court is also prosecuting 24 people accused of forming or aiding a Qaeda cell in Madrid. Three of the suspects are also charged with helping to plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
The trial, which began in April, is expected to produce a verdict by the end of July.
MADRID The Spanish Interior Ministry said Wednesday that the police had arrested 16 people on charges of involvement with Islamic terrorism, including 11 men suspected by the police of having worked for a network that provided recruits for the insurgency in Iraq.
Spain, which is described by terrorism experts here as a major logistical center for Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Europe, was not thought to be a significant supplier of fighters for the Iraq insurgency.
But the announcement on Wednesday suggests that the flow through Spain of recruits to Iraq may be heavier than previously estimated, at least publicly.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the 11 men, most of them Moroccans and Algerians, had recruited Islamic fighters for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the militant leader who is America's most wanted man in Iraq, and for Ansar al-Islam, a group of mostly Kurdish guerrillas who are suspected of collaborating with Zarqawi.
"The activities of this Islamist network centered on the recruitment and sending of jihadists to Iraq with the goal of committing suicide terrorist activities against the coalition forces," the ministry statement said.
Officials asserted that the network appeared to have been directed from Syria, although its activities were largely financed locally through drug trafficking, document fraud and robbery.
The ministry also announced Wednesday that the police had arrested five more suspects in the 2004 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and wounded at least 1,000. That attack, which Spanish investigators say was carried out by Islamic militants with ties to Al Qaeda, has led to the arrests of more than 100 people and the jailing of about 25.
In describing the men suspected of ties with the insurgency in Iraq, the Interior Ministry's statement said that several had already vowed to carry out suicide attacks in the name of Islam, a fact that "highlights the extreme radicalism and the danger of most of those arrested in this operation."
The statement also suggested that the men were prepared to carry out attacks before reaching Iraq, and perhaps even before leaving Spain. "Several members," it said, were "willing to commit a suicide terrorist act as soon as the leaders of the organization ordered it."
The main focus of these and other recruits, however, was to assist Zarqawi and Ansar al-Islam, the ministry said.
Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for scores of suicide bombings, assassinations and other attacks in Iraq, is suspected of filling his ranks with a significant number of recruits from outside Iraq.
Most of the fighters are thought to come from Arab countries, but the arrests in Spain indicate that Europe is involved too.
Spanish intelligence officials have known that channels for sending Islamic fighters to Iraq have existed in Spain since soon after the insurgency began.
But the flow of recruits through these channels - generally through London, Iran or Afghanistan - was minimal, at least until recently, said a government official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about intelligence matters.
Spain's national court is also prosecuting 24 people accused of forming or aiding a Qaeda cell in Madrid. Three of the suspects are also charged with helping to plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
The trial, which began in April, is expected to produce a verdict by the end of July. |
