Spain arrests 8 alleged members of terror cell

updated 7:38 a.m. ET June 10, 2008

MADRID, Spain - Police arrested eight suspected members of an Islamic extremist cell that allegedly aided groups linked to an al-Qaida affiliate based in Algeria, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday.

The suspects, all Algerians, are accused of recruiting people, raising money and providing logistical support for terror groups linked to al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa, the ministry said in a statement.

The men were arrested in the provinces of Barcelona, Navarra in the north and Castellon in the east on orders from the National Court, the Madrid-based tribunal that handles Spain's terrorism cases, the ministry said.

Police also seized $11,000 in cash, records of money transfers to Algeria, bank passbooks, CDs, videos and documentation from the suspects' homes.

As part of the same operation, police detained another 10 people who the ministry did not name as members of the cell. It said investigators will determine "their degree of participation" in the alleged cell's activities.

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