ISIS In Spain? 7 Arrested On Suspicion Of Supplying Cash, Weapons To Islamic State, Other Jihadi Groups

Police in Spain arrested seven people Sunday for suspected links to terrorist groups, including al Qaeda and the Islamic State group, in Iraq and Syria, according to the Interior Ministry. They were reportedly accused of supplying money and weapons to ISIS and al-Nusra.

Authorities reportedly said that five Spanish nationals of Syrian, Jordanian, and Moroccan origin, and two foreigners of Syrian and Moroccan origin were arrested during raids carried out in the eastern cities of Valencia and Alicante, and in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.

"The continued supply [of logistical material] by this cell directly supported the continuity and reinforcement of terrorist structures in Syria and Iraq," the ministry said, in a statement, according to NBC News. "The material was sent as humanitarian help to the conflict areas, but in reality what was being sent hidden amongst supplies was military material, money, electronic and transmission equipment, firearms and explosive-making precursors."

The statement also reportedly said that the leader of the network was in “constant” contact with a member of ISIS. The ISIS member also reportedly asked the network’s leader to recruit women to marry ISIS militants in Syria.

The investigation into the network began in 2014, the interior ministry reportedly said, adding that the group had operated in other European countries before establishing itself in Spain.

According to reports, at least 80 suspected jihadis have been arrested in Spain since the beginning of 2015.