By Dan Byrne for AMLi
THREE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED in Spain for their suspected involvement in a terrorism financing plot.
The individuals – who were apprehended by Spanish police in Santa Cruz and the capital Madrid – are thought to have used religiously motivated and non-profit causes as cover for their true intentions to finance terrorists associated with Al-Qaeda.
“The network diverted funds raised in good faith by religious associations, under the cover of using them as humanitarian aid for Syrian orphans,” Europol said in a statement Friday.
While some of the funds were sent to a school as expected, the facility in question is believed to specialise in the radicalisation of children – providing combat training and encouraging them to embrace ideals sympathetic to the notorious terrorist organisation, Europol said.
It is understood that several children who attended this school had parents who also engaged in terrorist activities and were killed in combat. The children were urged to carry this work on.
Meanwhile, the rest of the donated money was sent directly to terrorist fighters.
“As part of the operational action, officers carried out four searches and seized cash, valuables, documents and technical devices which are being analysed by investigators,” Europol said.
The agency advised that it had been in close contact with Spanish police from the early stages of the investigation and providing cooperation where required.
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