MADRID, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Catalan regional police force (Mossos d'Esquadra) have made several arrests in the widespread operation against a suspected jihadist terrorist group in the city of Barcelona and the nearby town of Igualada to the northwest.
The Mossos d'Esquadra confirmed on Twitter that they have launched six searches in Barcelona and Igualada as part of an investigation ordered by the High Court.
"Over 100 agents from different units have participated in the operation with several arrests made in Barcelona and one in Igualada," they added.
Those arrested have been charged with terrorism and belonging to a criminal organization, as well as offenses against property and public health.
Spanish state TV network RTVE said that five of the searches were carried out in the Barcelona town of Ciutat Vella, and that the operation is expected to end with around "a dozen" arrests.
The jihadist group was apparently preparing to carry out a terrorist attack, said the Catalan-based newspaper La Vanguardia, adding that the "hard core" of the network was made up of "5 Algerians, all of whom have previous criminal records of theft, robbery, violence and drug trafficking," in Barcelona.
