13 arrested in Spain for al-Qaeda links

Thirteen people have been arrested in Spain, in a long-running investigation into the funding of al-Qaeda in north Africa. Most of the suspects are of Algerian origin, and are accused of belonging to an organised criminal gang which sent its proceeds abroad. The money is said to have come from drug trafficking, burglaries, credit card fraud and even begging.

The operation followed months of inquiries by police in Bilbao. Officers say the investigation is continuing and may lead to further arrests. It’s the latest in a series of anti-terrorist investigations in Spain. Others have targeted Catalunya which is home to a large Muslim community. A year ago police dismantled what they called a radical Islamic group said to have been planning an attack in Barcelona.

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tags: Al-Qaeda