Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MADRID1272
2007-06-28 10:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN/CT: THREE ALLEGED MEMBERS OF AL-QAEDA IN THE
how-toVZCZCXRO7000 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHMD #1272 1791041 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281041Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2887 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 3942 RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0039 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 1154 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 6028 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0540 RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 2857 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001272
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - CLASSIFIED BY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2017
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN/CT: THREE ALLEGED MEMBERS OF AL-QAEDA IN THE
ISLAMIC MAGHREB ARRESTED IN BARCELONA
Classified by: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 b & d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001272
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - CLASSIFIED BY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2017
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN/CT: THREE ALLEGED MEMBERS OF AL-QAEDA IN THE
ISLAMIC MAGHREB ARRESTED IN BARCELONA
Classified by: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 b & d.
1. (SBU) The Spanish National Police on June 26 arrested
three young Moroccans in Barcelona suspected of having links
to the terrorist group Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
(AQIM). Press reports suggest that their objective was to
recruit and indoctrinate young Muslim extremists and
facilitate their travel to terrorist training camps in the
Sahel region of northern Africa. Some suicide bombers in
Iraq were reportedly trained in this area. The investigation
that nabbed the three individuals began in December 2005,
when Morocco dismantled a terrorist cell that had branches in
Spain and close links with Salafist terrorist groups, and
Rabat had reportedly put out international arrest warrants
for the individuals. The three alleged AQIM members are:
Muhammad Laksir, 23, Moulay Lahoucine Miftah Idrissi, 27, and
Muhammad Akazim, 32.
2. (C) Comment. This case appears to be different from recent
Spanish law enforcement arrests of suspected Islamic
extremists due to the length of the investigation and the
close cooperation between Spanish and Moroccan authorities.
In addition, these alleged terrorists appear to have real
ties to AQIM, which would be different than other terrorist
recruiters and facilitators arrested in Spain who had looser
or no formal ties to Al-Qaeda. These most recent arrests
represent yet another indication of the important terrorist
hub that Barcelona has become. Post will report further on
this case as events develop.
AGUIRRE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - CLASSIFIED BY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2017
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN/CT: THREE ALLEGED MEMBERS OF AL-QAEDA IN THE
ISLAMIC MAGHREB ARRESTED IN BARCELONA
Classified by: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 b & d.
1. (SBU) The Spanish National Police on June 26 arrested
three young Moroccans in Barcelona suspected of having links
to the terrorist group Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
(AQIM). Press reports suggest that their objective was to
recruit and indoctrinate young Muslim extremists and
facilitate their travel to terrorist training camps in the
Sahel region of northern Africa. Some suicide bombers in
Iraq were reportedly trained in this area. The investigation
that nabbed the three individuals began in December 2005,
when Morocco dismantled a terrorist cell that had branches in
Spain and close links with Salafist terrorist groups, and
Rabat had reportedly put out international arrest warrants
for the individuals. The three alleged AQIM members are:
Muhammad Laksir, 23, Moulay Lahoucine Miftah Idrissi, 27, and
Muhammad Akazim, 32.
2. (C) Comment. This case appears to be different from recent
Spanish law enforcement arrests of suspected Islamic
extremists due to the length of the investigation and the
close cooperation between Spanish and Moroccan authorities.
In addition, these alleged terrorists appear to have real
ties to AQIM, which would be different than other terrorist
recruiters and facilitators arrested in Spain who had looser
or no formal ties to Al-Qaeda. These most recent arrests
represent yet another indication of the important terrorist
hub that Barcelona has become. Post will report further on
this case as events develop.
AGUIRRE