iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
The autumnal equinox is set to take place on September 22, marking the end of summer this year
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Seven held in Spain, Morocco in probe on women militants
Four women including a minor and three men were arrested in Barcelona, Spain’s North African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta, and in the Moroccan town of Fnideq.
Seven people were arrested in Spain and Morocco on Tuesday for allegedly recruiting young women via the Internet to join the ISIS group fighting in Iraq and Syria.
Spain’s interior ministry said four women, one of them a minor, and three men were arrested in Barcelona, Spain’s North African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta, and in the nearby Moroccan town of Fnideq, or Castillejos in Spanish.
“All of the arrested are accused of forming part of a network that recruited and sent women to the Syria-Iraq front to the terrorist organisation Daesh,” a statement said.
The operation was carried out in cooperation with Moroccan security forces.
The group used social media sites such as Facebook to recruit the women, offering a “completely false and idealised vision” of their future lives in “what they call the Caliphate of the ISIS,” the statement added.
The group had so far managed to recruit 12 women, mainly from Ceuta and Melilla, targeting young women with poor job prospects who used social networking sites without much supervision.
The two men detained in Fnideq, just across the border from Ceuta, were the leaders of the network, Morocco’s interior ministry said in a separate statement.
They were in contact with “Moroccan combatants in the heart of ISIS who were planning attacks” in Morocco, it added.
Moroccan authorities believe more than 2,000 nationals, including some with dual nationality, are now fighting in Syria and Iraq with the ISIS group.
In September, the government approved a draft law to tighten anti-terrorist legislation, aimed particularly at stopping people from joining militant groups.
About 100 Spaniards have joined “militias” in Syria and Iraq, Spain’s ambassador to Iraq, Jose Maria Ferre de la Pena, said last month.
Governments in Europe and elsewhere fear that battle-hardened Islamist fighters returning under the influence of groups inspired by Al Qaeda may pose the threat of attacks.
Spain this year marked the 10th anniversary of the March 11, 2004, Al Qaeda-inspired bombing of four packed commuter trains in Madrid, which killed 191 people.
More news from
Tourists could seek specialised insurance in home country that includes coverage for their specific health issues, say industry experts
Jameela Almasoud aims to advance scientific research, particularly in genetics and cancer biology, and lead global public health initiatives
Some parents consider putting aside a fixed amount annually to fund their children’s higher education
Teammate Rashed Al Qemzi stays on course for a record fifth title triumph in the UIM F2 World Championship
Yamal scored twice in the first half before Dani Olmo and Pedri secured a 4-1 win for Barcelona at Girona
Newcastle advanced to 10 points, behind second placed Arsenal on goal difference and two behind Manchester City
It should be noted that Trump was injured in an assassination attempt during his campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13