SPAIN: SEVEN ARRESTED SUSPECTED OF ACQUIRING ARMS,

S E C R E T MADRID 000801 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2016 TAGS: PTER PGOV SP SUBJECT: SPAIN: SEVEN ARRESTED SUSPECTED OF ACQUIRING ARMS, EXPLOSIVES FOR ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS REF: TD 314/22948-06 Classified By: Political Counselor Kathy Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (B) a nd (D). ¶1. (S) Spanish National Police units arrested seven suspected arms traffickers in Madrid and Alicante in raids on March 29. The suspects are from various countries including Spain, Syria, Argentina, Egypt, Estonia and Germany. They are suspected of working to acquire arms and explosives for Islamic extremist groups linked to international terrorist organizations. At least one weapon and 4,000 euros in cash was seized. ¶2. (U) The Syrian national who was arrested, Abdul Moumen Al-Abrash Ghalyoun, is the brother of Ghasoub Al-Abrash Ghalyoun who was tried in September on terrorism charges for his association with Spain-based Al-Qa'ida leader Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas. Al Abrash had taken video footage of the World Trade Center in New York and other buildings, but a judge found there was no proof that the video taping was related to terrorism. Ghasoub Al-Abrash Ghalyoun was acquitted in September 2005. ¶3. (S) Abdul Momen Al-Abrash Ghalyoun was born May 14, 1948, in Horns, Syria. He was known to be associated with individuals linked to organized crime networks for the purpose of facilitating the acquisition of arms and explosives. In addition to Al-Abrash, the following individuals were arrested: -- Hassan Mohamed Youssef; DPOB February 27, 1952, in Sharkia, Egypt. -- Jacinto Claros Robles; DPOB June 20, 1972, in Malaga, Spain. -- Carmen Maria Salvatierra Fernandez; DPOB January 7, 1978, in Malaga, Spain. -- Alexksei Pustuvarov (aka. Aleksey); DPOB July 30, 1970, in Voru, Estonia. -- Jose Maria Araujo Torres (aka. Jose El Frances "Jose the French"); DPOB April 24, 1962, in Caceres, Spain. -- Ingrid Gertrud Rosa Sacher; DPOB June 16, 1953, in Saarbruecken, Germany. AGUIRRE