The Spanish government says police have arrested two pairs of brothers suspected of belonging to a militant Islamist network.

Police released dramatic video of the operation that shows heavily armed officers storming into a house in Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish city on the northern coast of Africa. Spain's Interior Ministry said the four men, believed to be Spanish nationals of Moroccan origin, were highly trained and could have been planning an attack on Spain.

 

 

The Spanish government says police have arrested two pairs of brothers suspected of belonging to a militant Islamist network Police released dramatic video of the operation that shows heavily armed officers storming into a house in Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish city on the northern coast of Africa. Spain's Interior Ministry said the four men, believed to be Spanish nationals of Moroccan origin, were highly trained and could have been planning an attack on Spain. Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz says the brothers have similarities with the Paris attackers of earlier this month. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH INTERIOR MINISTER, JORGE FERNANDEZ DIAZ, SAYING: "Police have found interesting the great parallels with the French terrorists. I repeat, they were also brothers, but above all -- their psychological and physical preparedness as well as their expertise handling arms and their firm determination that police have found in their investigation which remains open to carry out an attack and self immolate or die in the process if necessary." Officials said the police found a gun, combat gear and knives during the the pre-dawn raid. The arrests come amid a heightened effort by European countries following the Paris attacks, to prevent young Muslim citizens from becoming jihadists in Syria or Iraq, fearing they might return to plot attacks on home soil.

 

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"Police Arrest Four Suspected Islamist Militants in Spain"