Authorities in Spain have arrested 16 suspected Islamic terrorists. They believe 11 of the suspects have ties to terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the United States' most wanted man in Iraq.
Spanish police say that the other five suspects are linked to last year's Madrid train bombings according to a statement released by the Interior Ministry.
'Many of them had declared their willingness to become martyrs for Islam, which demonstrates they are extremely radical and dangerous,' the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The 11 suspects believed to be linked to Zarqawi were allegedly recruited by two Moroccans who used to work out of Syria according to Spanish authorities. They were allegedly looking to recruit people willing to be suicide bombers.
The police believe the leader of the 11 men is 28-year-old Samir Tahtah. Tahtah has a prior record for forging documents. According to the Interior Ministry statement, 'He coordinated the communication with the leaders of the network abroad and the sending of recruits to commit terrorist actions in Iraq.'
Larbi Ben Sellam is the suspected leader of the five men arrested in connection with the March 11, 2004, train bombings in Madrid which killed 191 people. Sellam, a native of Morocco, will be charged with mass murder.
Thirteen of the 16 people arrested are natives of Morocco, two are from Algeria and the country of origin of the final suspect is still unclear.
The trial of the suspected train bombers could begin as early as this year.
Spanish authorities are declaring these arrests as a major break against terror in that country.
