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Spain arrests 14 terror suspects (Bomb materials found; "Imminent attack" planned)
The BBC ^ | Januray 19, 2008

Posted on 01/19/2008 7:22:27 AM PST by Stoat

Spain arrests 14 terror suspects

 

Civil Guard
Spain is still haunted by the Madrid bombings - carried out by Islamists
Bomb-related material has been found during raids in Barcelona which led to the arrest of 14 people suspected of links with an Islamist terror network.

Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said the suspects included 12 from Pakistan and two from India.

Local media reports that the Spanish intelligence agency had warned France, the UK and Portugal that a terror cell was preparing an imminent attack.

This coincides with a European tour by Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf.

Radical threat

Potential bomb-making material
Police said timers and other potential bomb making material was found

The Civil Guard detained the suspects in Barcelona as part of a joint operation with Spain's National Intelligence Centre (CNI).

Several premises were searched and officers seized computers and materials to produce explosives.

The operation is ongoing and more arrests have not been ruled out.

Mr Rubalcaba said the evidence suggested that they were faced with "a radical Islamist group with a significant level of organisation which seems to have taken a step beyond ideological radicalisation".

Let's be as cautious as is advisable in these cases
 
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero
Spanish prime minister

He said the group appeared to have been "planning to equip itself with material to make explosives and so to carry out violent actions".

Spain suffered at the hands of Islamist militants in 2004 when 191 people were killed in the Madrid train bombings.

Most of the 21 people convicted of the attacks were found to have been part of a local Islamist militant group inspired by al-Qaeda, but not part of that organisation.

Election issue

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said that it was too early to arrive at any conclusions as to what the suspects might have been planning.

"Let's be as cautious as is advisable in these cases, with regard to the scope, intentions and what this potential group of radical Islamist activists represented," he said.

The BBC's Steve Kingstone, in Madrid, says domestic security will be a key issue in the run-up to Spain's general election, in two months time.

The governing Socialist Party says that, during its four-year term of office, 300 Islamist militants have been arrested.



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; alqaedaspain; alqueda; barcelona; eurabia; foiled; islam; islamofascism; jihadineurope; spain; terror; terrorism; waronterror; wot; zapatero
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AFP Spanish police arrest 14 in anti-terror raids interior minister

Spanish police arrest 14 in anti-terror raids: interior minister

MADRID (AFP) — Spanish police have smashed a suspected Islamist terror cell, arresting 14 people and recovering bomb-making equipment in overnight raids in Barcelona, the interior minister said on Saturday.

"During our searches, we found various materials which could be explosives or be used to make explosives," Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba told a press conference in Madrid.

Those arrested included 12 Pakistanis and two Indians, he said. Four timing devices as well as computer equipment which was still being examined were also recovered.

He said that the group could be characterised as "radical Islamist", was "highly organised" and was preparing to carry out an attack in the north-eastern Spanish city.

The operation, which saw five homes raided by police, was carried out on the basis of information gathered by Spain's domestic and foreign intelligence agencies.

The intelligence suggested "the possibility that a terrorist action was being prepared on Spanish soil, in Barcelona to be precise," Rubalcaba said.

Police then "detected an organised group suspected of gathering materials used to make explosives," and decided immediately to swoop, he said.

He added that it was "probable" that some of the 14 were innocent.

Private radio station Cadena Ser reported that the suspects were believed to have links to a financial network for certain branches of Al-Qaeda.

All the arrests took place in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona, home to a large Muslim immigrant population, media reports said.

In May last year in Barcelona, authorities dismantled a network that was recruiting fighters and funding militant organisations in North Africa and Iraq. Thirteen Moroccans and two Algerians were arrested in that case.

On March 11, 2004, simultaneous bombings on commuter trains in the Spanish capital Madrid killed 191 people.

Newspaper El Pais reported on its website that Spanish authorities have warned France, Portugal and Britain of the possibility of attacks on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf during a visit to Europe next week.

Small groups composed principally of Pakistanis were preparing to carry out attacks "imminently," the report cited Spanish intelligence agency sources as saying.

Musharraf begins a European tour on Sunday that will see him visit Brussels, France, Britain and the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, speaking in Portugal, praised the intelligence services for the raids but said not to jump to conclusions about those arrested.


1 posted on 01/19/2008 7:22:28 AM PST by Stoat
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To: All
"Let's be as cautious as is advisable in these cases, with regard to the scope, intentions and what this potential group of radical Islamist activists represented," he said.

Yes, let's not upset any of our Dear Muslim Friends or run the risk of seeming impolite........

2 posted on 01/19/2008 7:23:13 AM PST by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat

If Spain would get its troops out of Iraq......


3 posted on 01/19/2008 7:23:48 AM PST by Stentor
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To: Stoat

As long as wiretaps weren’t used. /s


4 posted on 01/19/2008 7:24:29 AM PST by csvset
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To: Stoat

Okey, dokey, let’s not upset the Islamics because they might throw future elections.


5 posted on 01/19/2008 7:25:51 AM PST by mtbopfuyn (I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
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To: Stentor

I thought the Spaniels surrendered already ?


6 posted on 01/19/2008 7:26:53 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (ENERGY CRISIS made in Washington D. C.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
I thought the Spaniels surrendered already ?

I think that the deal is that they have to re-surrender every few weeks in order for the surrender to remain valid........

7 posted on 01/19/2008 7:31:23 AM PST by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: mtbopfuyn
Kind of amusing, I work for a large corporation, and I just had a sensitivity class on cultural differences. The usual drivel about understanding other cultures.It was bought up about wearing a cross in the Mooslim world. We already knew the answer of course, but the “teacher” stated that was culturally biased. What about our feelings? Unfortunately my company does alot of business in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and we have to kiss their butt.
8 posted on 01/19/2008 7:34:01 AM PST by bronxboy
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To: mtbopfuyn
"Okey, dokey, let’s not upset the Islamics because they might throw future elections."

Or, even blow up things and kill people.

9 posted on 01/19/2008 7:35:18 AM PST by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
I thought the Spaniels surrendered already ?

Just goes to show, kowtowing to the islamaniacs doesn't make you any safer than fighting them.

Perhaps the Spaniards should up their dhimmy tribute and return the lands taken from the Moors in 1492. That might work, but I think the islam-o-facsists would only see this as a weakness and press their slaughter of the infidels.

Pity the spineless buggers.

10 posted on 01/19/2008 7:58:58 AM PST by woofer (Earth First! We'll mine the other eight later.)
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To: Stentor
If Spain would get its troops out of Iraq......

I think that the deal was that if they scamper out of Iraq with their tails between their legs that the muzzies wouldn't kill them "all", "immediately", or something along those lines.  Apparently, so much time has now elapsed that all agreements, expressed or implied, are invalid.

11 posted on 01/19/2008 7:59:15 AM PST by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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I DON’T UNDERSTAND: Spain surrendered to Al Quaeda by turning tail and fleeing the battlefield in Iraq. Are the terrorists trying to kick Spain when it is down? Or do they want Cordoba back? Maybe if Zapatero offered them Seville..........
12 posted on 01/19/2008 8:00:21 AM PST by Godwin1 (merican restaurant.)
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To: csvset
As long as wiretaps weren’t used. /s

Or that awful waterboarding....it's such an indignity to get our Dear Muslim Friends wet and to frighten them so, after all.

We just need to open up more lines of communication and talk with them more.......

"puke"

13 posted on 01/19/2008 8:02:28 AM PST by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
I thought the Spaniels surrendered already ?

Osama says game on until the Moo's get back Andalusia...
14 posted on 01/19/2008 8:04:38 AM PST by Kozak (Anti Shahada: There is no god named Allah, and Muhammed is a false prophet)
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To: Kozak; All
Osama says game on until the Moo's get back Andalusia...
 

I seem to recall that The Ketchup Girls are Andalusian.  It would be a terrible shame for them to have to wear burkhas and to be subjected to dhimmitude....

YouTube - Ketchup song original and full

15 posted on 01/19/2008 8:14:50 AM PST by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat

Hmmm..troops out of Iraq, no troops in Afghanistan, a socialist government, looks like there is a teachable moment here if the Spaniards would use some logic.


16 posted on 01/19/2008 8:15:01 AM PST by DeusExMachina05 (I will not go into Dhimmitude quietly.)
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To: Stoat; Eric in the Ozarks; calcowgirl; yorkie
I thought the Spaniels surrendered already ?

I think that the deal is that they have to re-surrender every few weeks in order for the surrender to remain valid........?

LOLOL!

17 posted on 01/19/2008 8:20:41 AM PST by nicmarlo (I hereby declare my support for Duncan Hunter. 1/10/08; late to the party, but I have arrived!)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
I thought the Spaniels surrendered already ?

Don't matter no way. Blowing things up is the scene, man. What's a jihad without blowing things up? No explosions - that ain't no fun, man.

18 posted on 01/19/2008 8:20:50 AM PST by BusterBear
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To: Stoat
He said the group appeared to have been "planning to equip itself with material to make explosives and so to carry out violent actions".


It must have taken some real brain work to figure that out. Give that Interior Minister a prize!
19 posted on 01/19/2008 8:23:28 AM PST by Deo volente
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To: Deo volente
Give that Interior Minister a prize!

A "Hair Club For Men" membership might be a good prize to start with.....

 

Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba

20 posted on 01/19/2008 8:42:39 AM PST by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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