MADRID // Fourteen people were arrested Tuesday in Spain and Morocco during an “anti-terrorist operation” targeting recruiters for ISIL, Spain’s interior ministry said.
The operation continues, the ministry said, without giving any details.
The intelligence services of both countries “today arrested 14 people in Martin de la Vega [in the Madrid region] and in Fez, Casablanca, Nador, Al Hoceima and Driouech in Morocco.”
“Those arrested belong to a network recruiting and sending foreign fighters to join the ranks of ISIL,” it said.
Europe has been grappling with radicalised Muslims leaving to fight for ISIL in Iraq and Syria.
France has the highest overall numbers joining the fight in Syria, with the government reporting that 843 had left for Syria as of May — more than half of them unknown to authorities at the time of their departure.
* Agence France-Presse
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
RESULT
Manchester City 1 Sheffield United 0
Man City: Jesus (9')
