Five people have been arrested in Spain on charges of grooming potential ISIS recruits and funding the organisation in Libya.
In two separate anti-terrorist operations, Spanish national police swept on suspects in Barcelona, Girona, Valencia and Melilla, one of two Spanish cities in North Africa that has a border with Morocco.
Two people were arrested in Melilla for allegedly recruiting young fighters for ISIS.
Police began the grooming investigation, Operation Farcol, two years ago after discovering ISIS indoctrination videos that are believed to have been created and distributed by the two suspects.
Three people were arrested, one each in Barcelona, Girona and Valencia, and charged with helping to fund ISIS in Libya.
The main suspect, arrested as part of Operation Kital, allegedly used a complex network of companies with an international presence to divert funds to a group in Libya with links to ISIS.
He is believed to be related to the leadership of that group.
Five suspected ISIS members were arrested in October last year by Spanish police investigating an alleged attack plot.
Last month, the authorities in Sweden and France launched a joint team to investigate atrocities committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community.
Investigations in the two countries are continuing and are co-ordinated by Europe's crime agency, Eurojust, through the Swedish and French authorities, with the support of the Genocide Network Secretariat, hosted by Eurojust.
Last year, Germany became the first country to convict an ISIS member for genocide against the Yazidi community.
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions | $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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if you go
Getting there
Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.
Staying there
On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.
More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr
