National
14 Islamists arrested in Barcelona with explosive material
By h.b.
Jan 19, 2008 - 5:18 PM

Twelve Pakistanis and two Indians have been arrested in Barcelona. The Spanish Minister for the Interior, Alfredo Pérez-Rubalcaba, confirmed that the Islamists were preparing a terrorist attack and were found four detonators and computer material, which is now being analysed. The new arrests are reported to be linked to another group of five Pakistanis who were broken up in Spain in 2004, and who are now in prison in Spain serving terms of up to nine years. The Minister said that the group detained in the early hours of Saturday morning were very well organised.

The arrests were made and material recovered in five searches of the Raval district of Barcelona. House searches, and the inspection of a Mosque, are continuing in the Barcelona area, and further arrests have not been ruled out. Alfredo Pérez-Rubalcaba said that the investigation was started after receiving information from several European intelligence services, and Spain remained on high alert for possible terrorist attacks.

Speaking from the Spanish-Portuguese summit, the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, called for prudence regarding the intentions of the arrested group. He had been kept fully informed on the operation, and congratulated the intelligence services and the Guardia Civil. Zapatero said the full extent of the operation was still being evaluated.