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| Islamic State group: Spain arrests man 'financing return of fighters' | Islamic State group: Spain arrests man 'financing return of fighters' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Syrian man accused of financing the return to Europe of Islamic State (IS) group members has been arrested in Madrid, Spanish police say. | A Syrian man accused of financing the return to Europe of Islamic State (IS) group members has been arrested in Madrid, Spanish police say. |
| The man, who has not been named, is suspected of being part of the group's financial structure and of sending money to fighters in Syria. | |
| The money raised in Europe reached the jihadists through an informal transfer system known as hawala, police said. | The money raised in Europe reached the jihadists through an informal transfer system known as hawala, police said. |
| Almost 6,000 fighters from Western Europe joined IS in Syria and Iraq. | Almost 6,000 fighters from Western Europe joined IS in Syria and Iraq. |
| Spain's National Police said its investigation determined that fighters set up a structure in Syria to give financial support to foreign fighters wishing to return to Europe. | Spain's National Police said its investigation determined that fighters set up a structure in Syria to give financial support to foreign fighters wishing to return to Europe. |
| "This [police] operation is part of the fight against the new strategy of [IS] which, after its loss of territorial control, has urged its members to return to their places of origin," police said in a statement (in Spanish). | "This [police] operation is part of the fight against the new strategy of [IS] which, after its loss of territorial control, has urged its members to return to their places of origin," police said in a statement (in Spanish). |
| The suspect - reportedly 43 years old - used a "number of security measures to hide his identity and communications on digital platforms", police added. | The suspect - reportedly 43 years old - used a "number of security measures to hide his identity and communications on digital platforms", police added. |
| Hawala is an informal system of money transfer which uses brokers based in different countries, making it difficult for authorities to keep track of cash being moved across borders. | Hawala is an informal system of money transfer which uses brokers based in different countries, making it difficult for authorities to keep track of cash being moved across borders. |
| Under hawala, no money actually crosses international borders. | Under hawala, no money actually crosses international borders. |
| More than 41,000 people from dozens of countries around the world are estimated to have joined IS in Syria and Iraq - about a quarter of them women and children. | More than 41,000 people from dozens of countries around the world are estimated to have joined IS in Syria and Iraq - about a quarter of them women and children. |
| Approximately 850 people from the UK were among them, including 145 women and 50 children. | Approximately 850 people from the UK were among them, including 145 women and 50 children. |
| The vast majority of IS militants are believed to have been either killed or captured. It is unclear how many foreigners have died. | The vast majority of IS militants are believed to have been either killed or captured. It is unclear how many foreigners have died. |
| Researchers suggest at least 7,000 have travelled back to their countries of origin. | Researchers suggest at least 7,000 have travelled back to their countries of origin. |
| Those countries have raised concerns about bringing hardened jihadists back and the challenges of gathering evidence to support prosecutions. | Those countries have raised concerns about bringing hardened jihadists back and the challenges of gathering evidence to support prosecutions. |