Islamist suspects arrested in Spain

Updated 18.37 Sat Jan 19 2008

Keywords: Islamist, arrests, Spain

Spanish police have arrested 14 people after discovering bomb-making material at addresses in Barcelona.

Stockpiles of timers, ball-bearings and batteries were found and Spain's Interior Minister, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, said they had been ready to act.

Twelve Pakistanis and two Indians were arrested after authorities received information that Islamic radicals may have been plotting attacks in the country's second city

Twelve Pakistanis and two Indians were arrested after authorities received information from its own and other European intelligence agencies that Islamic radicals may have been plotting attacks in the country's second city.

Spain has significantly beefed up surveillance of mosques and employed more Arabic translators in the last four years.

The country suffered Europe's deadliest Islamist attack in March 2004 when four Madrid trains were bombed, killing 191 commuters and wounding a further 1,800.

The operation is continuing and Spain remains on a high level of alert against possible attacks, the minister said.