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Spanish Police Target Cells Recruiting War Volunteers Spanish Police Target Cells Recruiting War Volunteers
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MELILLA, Spain — Starting in this tiny North African enclave, the Spanish police have cracked down in recent weeks on a network of Islamic militants with footholds in Spain and Morocco that they say has recruited and dispatched young volunteers to join insurgencies from Mali to Libya to Syria.MELILLA, Spain — Starting in this tiny North African enclave, the Spanish police have cracked down in recent weeks on a network of Islamic militants with footholds in Spain and Morocco that they say has recruited and dispatched young volunteers to join insurgencies from Mali to Libya to Syria.
The Spanish authorities described the cells as radicalized and connected via the Internet to some of the most dangerous militant groups that are fueling conflicts from Western Africa to Syria and Iraq, while also reinforcing fears that fighters with European passports will return with deadly skills to strike at home.The Spanish authorities described the cells as radicalized and connected via the Internet to some of the most dangerous militant groups that are fueling conflicts from Western Africa to Syria and Iraq, while also reinforcing fears that fighters with European passports will return with deadly skills to strike at home.
Six Spanish citizens were arrested two weeks ago in this town, several of whom had served in the Spanish military, security officials said.Six Spanish citizens were arrested two weeks ago in this town, several of whom had served in the Spanish military, security officials said.
Across Europe, authorities have stepped up surveillance and arrests of suspected militants as the Syrian conflict lures hundreds of fighters with European passports. But the alarm is arguably greater in Spain, which suffered Europe’s worst attack at the hands of Islamic militants in 2004, when 191 people were killed in a series of train bombings. The Spanish counterterrorism police say they have broken up more terrorist cells than in any other European country in the last three years.Across Europe, authorities have stepped up surveillance and arrests of suspected militants as the Syrian conflict lures hundreds of fighters with European passports. But the alarm is arguably greater in Spain, which suffered Europe’s worst attack at the hands of Islamic militants in 2004, when 191 people were killed in a series of train bombings. The Spanish counterterrorism police say they have broken up more terrorist cells than in any other European country in the last three years.
After their latest raid, in Madrid early Monday, the Spanish police said they had detained nine people on suspicion of recruiting militants for the insurgent group ISIS, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, whose followers have surged deep into Iraq since last week, threatening to fracture the country. After their latest raid, in Madrid early Monday, the Spanish police said they had detained nine people on suspicion of recruiting militants for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, whose followers have surged deep into Iraq since last week, threatening to fracture the country.
Spain’s Interior Ministry said the Madrid cell was led by Lahcen Ikassrien, a Moroccan who was freed from the United States military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba; handed over to Spain; and later released. Mr. Ikassrien was arrested at his home outside Madrid. The others arrested included Moroccans, Spaniards and an Argentine, according to the Spanish news media, which cited anonymous police sources.Spain’s Interior Ministry said the Madrid cell was led by Lahcen Ikassrien, a Moroccan who was freed from the United States military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba; handed over to Spain; and later released. Mr. Ikassrien was arrested at his home outside Madrid. The others arrested included Moroccans, Spaniards and an Argentine, according to the Spanish news media, which cited anonymous police sources.
Monday’s raid followed another two weeks ago here in Melilla, one of two Spanish enclaves in North Africa, along with Ceuta, that present special challenges to the authorities for their large populations of Muslims with European passports and for the fact that they provide the only land borders between Africa and Europe. In addition, thousands more Moroccans from nearby districts can freely enter the enclaves for daily work or trade.Monday’s raid followed another two weeks ago here in Melilla, one of two Spanish enclaves in North Africa, along with Ceuta, that present special challenges to the authorities for their large populations of Muslims with European passports and for the fact that they provide the only land borders between Africa and Europe. In addition, thousands more Moroccans from nearby districts can freely enter the enclaves for daily work or trade.
The borders of the enclaves have come under increasing pressure this year from surges of migrants trying to gain entry into Europe.The borders of the enclaves have come under increasing pressure this year from surges of migrants trying to gain entry into Europe.
But Melilla also presents a potential bridgehead for any group seeking access to Europe, and it has become a focal point of the Spanish authorities’ investigations, stoking tensions with the enclave’s Muslim population, which represent about half the town’s 80,000 inhabitants.But Melilla also presents a potential bridgehead for any group seeking access to Europe, and it has become a focal point of the Spanish authorities’ investigations, stoking tensions with the enclave’s Muslim population, which represent about half the town’s 80,000 inhabitants.
Two weeks ago, masked police officers burst into the house of a pensioner, Mimon Zizaoui, handcuffing him and forcing him to his knees as others raced upstairs, where his wife and family were sleeping, the family said in interviews.Two weeks ago, masked police officers burst into the house of a pensioner, Mimon Zizaoui, handcuffing him and forcing him to his knees as others raced upstairs, where his wife and family were sleeping, the family said in interviews.
The man they wanted, his 26-year-old son, Mustafa, had already been detained on the street outside as he returned home from a night out with friends, but community leaders complained that the police still pulled the elder Mr. Zizaoui, a 66-year-old heart patient, and women and children from their beds and held them at gunpoint for six hours while they searched the house.The man they wanted, his 26-year-old son, Mustafa, had already been detained on the street outside as he returned home from a night out with friends, but community leaders complained that the police still pulled the elder Mr. Zizaoui, a 66-year-old heart patient, and women and children from their beds and held them at gunpoint for six hours while they searched the house.
The raid was part of a coordinated action by the police that ended with the detention of six Spanish men accused of recruiting men for jihadi training camps in Mali and Libya, but the tactics provoked anger and small demonstrations.The raid was part of a coordinated action by the police that ended with the detention of six Spanish men accused of recruiting men for jihadi training camps in Mali and Libya, but the tactics provoked anger and small demonstrations.
Fifty people protested against the arrests outside government offices the next day. Muslim leaders followed up with a news conference outside the White Mosque in the Cañada neighborhood of Melilla, which was frequented by the six, pleading that Islam not be criminalized and the men not be prejudged.Fifty people protested against the arrests outside government offices the next day. Muslim leaders followed up with a news conference outside the White Mosque in the Cañada neighborhood of Melilla, which was frequented by the six, pleading that Islam not be criminalized and the men not be prejudged.
The Spanish police insisted that there was evidence enough against the six, however, and a judge in Madrid ordered them detained without bail. They were part of a larger group of Spanish and Moroccan citizens that has been under investigation for nearly five years, a senior police official said. He asked not to be named because of the secret nature of his work. The Spanish police insisted that there was evidence enough against the six, however, and a judge in Madrid ordered them detained without bail. They are part of a larger group of Spanish and Moroccan citizens that has been under investigation for nearly five years, a senior police official said. He asked not to be named because of the secret nature of his work.
According to the police, the Melilla group had dispatched 26 men — 24 Moroccans and two Spanish citizens — since 2012 to join Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, an Algerian-led movement, and specifically to a splinter group called Mujao, a French acronym that in English means Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa in Mali. Both groups have been fighting French troops in Mali for more than a year, trying to establish an Islamic caliphate in the country. According to the police, the Melilla group had dispatched 26 men — 24 Moroccans and two Spanish citizens — since 2012 to join Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, an Algerian-led movement, and specifically to a splinter group in Mali called Mujao, a French acronym that in English means Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa. Both groups have been fighting French troops in Mali for more than a year, trying to establish an Islamic caliphate in the country.
In Libya, several extremist Islamist groups, some offshoots of Al Qaeda, are running training camps and sending recruits to join ISIS, the most extreme group fighting in the region. One member of the Melilla group, Maya Amata, who was arrested in March, had been in contact on the Internet with members of ISIS who have been seen on propaganda videos carrying out extrajudicial executions, according to the Spanish police. In Libya, several extremist Islamist groups, some offshoots of Al Qaeda, are running training camps and sending recruits to join ISIS, the most extreme group fighting in the region. One member of the Melilla group, Mustafa Maya Amaya, who was arrested in March, had been in contact on the Internet with members of ISIS who have been seen on propaganda videos carrying out extrajudicial executions, according to the Spanish police.
Several of the six had served in the Spanish military, and one, Benaissa Laghmouchi Baghdadi, a former engineer, had trained recruits at a Mujao camp in the use of explosives in 2012, the police said. Another former soldier from Melilla, Zakaria Said Mohamed, is still in Mali and is also wanted by the police. His family says, however, he is in jail in Morocco.Several of the six had served in the Spanish military, and one, Benaissa Laghmouchi Baghdadi, a former engineer, had trained recruits at a Mujao camp in the use of explosives in 2012, the police said. Another former soldier from Melilla, Zakaria Said Mohamed, is still in Mali and is also wanted by the police. His family says, however, he is in jail in Morocco.
Members of the group had also created a website — Sharia4Spain — to spread jihadi literature and recruit volunteers, in particular minors, to train for jihad, the police said. Seven other men were detained in March in Spain and Morocco, three of them in Melilla and one in Malaga.Members of the group had also created a website — Sharia4Spain — to spread jihadi literature and recruit volunteers, in particular minors, to train for jihad, the police said. Seven other men were detained in March in Spain and Morocco, three of them in Melilla and one in Malaga.
There is no evidence that the six arrested in Melilla were plotting any attack against Spain or its interests, but under Spanish law just cooperating with an armed anticonstitutional organization is a crime, police officials said.There is no evidence that the six arrested in Melilla were plotting any attack against Spain or its interests, but under Spanish law just cooperating with an armed anticonstitutional organization is a crime, police officials said.
The men’s families and friends denied they were involved in any jihadi activity, even if they had adopted the untrimmed beards and long shirts often worn by Salafi-jihadis.The men’s families and friends denied they were involved in any jihadi activity, even if they had adopted the untrimmed beards and long shirts often worn by Salafi-jihadis.
“He was an open boy, he would have talked of this,” said Mimon Zizaoui, the father of Mustafa. He believed that Mustafa would be released for lack of evidence. He said that as the police took him away in handcuffs, his son told him: “I have done nothing. You can be calm.”“He was an open boy, he would have talked of this,” said Mimon Zizaoui, the father of Mustafa. He believed that Mustafa would be released for lack of evidence. He said that as the police took him away in handcuffs, his son told him: “I have done nothing. You can be calm.”
Many of Melilla’s Muslims are well-adjusted, middle-class, second- or third-generation immigrants from Morocco, educated in Spanish schools. Yet there is also high unemployment, drug smuggling and poverty in the poorer areas, where radicalism has set in.Many of Melilla’s Muslims are well-adjusted, middle-class, second- or third-generation immigrants from Morocco, educated in Spanish schools. Yet there is also high unemployment, drug smuggling and poverty in the poorer areas, where radicalism has set in.
Melilla has generally avoided a strong drift toward radical Islamism, said Abderrahman Benyahya, vice president of the Association of Muslims of Melilla, an organization that defends the legal and cultural rights of Muslims. “On a daily basis, it is not the principal problem of Melilla,” he said.Melilla has generally avoided a strong drift toward radical Islamism, said Abderrahman Benyahya, vice president of the Association of Muslims of Melilla, an organization that defends the legal and cultural rights of Muslims. “On a daily basis, it is not the principal problem of Melilla,” he said.
But Hach Mimon, the imam of Melilla’s Muslim cemetery and a third-generation immigrant who has worked in Melilla 22 years, 12 of them in a mosque in Cañada, said he had recently noticed a group of radical Islamists who showed disdain for the elder, traditional Muslims in Melilla.But Hach Mimon, the imam of Melilla’s Muslim cemetery and a third-generation immigrant who has worked in Melilla 22 years, 12 of them in a mosque in Cañada, said he had recently noticed a group of radical Islamists who showed disdain for the elder, traditional Muslims in Melilla.
“Life has changed a lot,” he said. “Before when you went out, people would greet you, and now they pass and do not look you in the face. It is strange. If you are not part of them, you are excluded.”“Life has changed a lot,” he said. “Before when you went out, people would greet you, and now they pass and do not look you in the face. It is strange. If you are not part of them, you are excluded.”