The four ISIS suspects arrested as part of a European-wide anti terrorist operation in Majorca on Wednesday morning will this morning appear before the High Court magistrate Santiago Pedraz in Madrid, who will decide on whether to let them walk free or hold them on remand in prison.
The four were arrested in Inca, Binissalem and Ariany and were apparently working under the orders of Iman Tarki Chadlioui, who was arrested in Birmingham, radicalising young Muslims here in Majorca to be sent apparently to training camps Syria.
A fifth 28-year-old Spaniard also suspected of being involved in the recruiting cell was arrested in Dusseldorf.
The group has been under investigation since 2015 when Spanish anti terror police came across a website which included a series of videos aimed at trying to indoctrinate young Muslims and one of the four apparently travelled to Syria.
According to the Spanish Home Office, the content on the website was extremely radical and organised regular meetings of young Muslims to prepare them to fight in conflict zones.
Sources close to the investigation have confirmed that the group has grown since the operation began two years ago, not only on the social networks but with regards to the regular meetings in various parts of rural Majorca. The Spaniard arrested in Germany was in direct contact with the four in Majorca and helped them produce their videos.
Spain now wants to extradite Tarik Chadlioui, aged 43, and the other Spaniard from Germany for questioning and possible trial in Spain - the operation was led by the Spanish authorities, but the imam is trying to use human rights laws and legal aid to fight extradition. Tarik Chadlioui, was arrested yesterday at the request of Spanish police, who say he is the spiritual leader of a jihadist network. He is accused of inspiring Omar Mostefai, who blew himself up during the Bataclan theatre siege that claimed 89 lives in Paris in 2015.
Chadlioui has urged his followers – including 29,000 on Facebook – to wage holy war against ‘infidels’, promising paradise in return.
Yet the Moroccan imam was allowed into Britain two years ago under EU freedom of movement rules because he holds a Belgian passport. He is now trying to use human rights laws to fight extradition to Spain and is likely to apply for taxpayer–funded legal aid, claiming he has a right to a family life here.
Chadlioui was arrested at his £800-a-month rented home in Birmingham he shares with his wife, who recently gave birth to their eighth child. Chadlioui claims he has been making a living selling perfume to mosques and market stalls.
But Spanish investigators believe he has been flying in and out of Britain to Majorca for clandestine meetings with jihadis recruited through the hateful sermons he has posted on YouTube and other social media.