Madrid - Spanish police on Wednesday detained six suspected members of an Islamist group that promoted a "holy war" against the West in Iraq and other parts of the world, the Interior Ministry said. The Algerian leader of the group, his Moroccan deputy and four others were held in northern Burgos province.
Police searched their homes and a butchery, seizing documents and computer materials.
The detainees were suspected of collecting money for jailed terrorists, spreading Islamist propaganda and recruiting people who could commit attacks.
The suspected leaders admitted to adhering to principles of Salafist Islamism, the ministry said.
The detainees were believed to have used internet forums and chat rooms to push a world-wide Jihad (holy war). They had contacts in several countries, and Spanish investigators cooperated with police in Sweden, Denmark and the United States.
The arrests followed a decision by the National Court on Tuesday to try 22 suspected Islamists who were also believed to have links with the Iraq conflict.
The Moroccan leader of the group had allegedly been under the direct orders of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian al-Qaeda leader in Iraq who was killed by US forces in June 2006.
The Spanish cell was believed to have sent about 10 fighters to Iraq, including a Moroccan who had participated in the 2004 Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people.
The cell was allegedly planning to stage attacks in France and Italy. Ten of the suspects were jailed unconditionally as a preventative measure.
