Spanish judge to question 11 suspected al-Qaida financial supporters

A Spanish judge is expected on Monday to question 11 people arrested last week on suspicion of financing and giving logistical support to an Islamic extremist group linked to al-Qaida. The 11 men, who were detained on Wednesday in and around three Spanish cities in largely immigrant neighborhoods, are suspected of having ties to the Algeria-based Salafist Group for Call and Combat, which has declared allegiance to al-Qaida.

Judge Fernando Andreu ordered the arrests based on a 10-month police investigation, court officials said. Terror suspects in Spain can be held in custody for a maximum of five days while the judge carries out more inquiries.

The suspects were accused of financing terrorist activities through petty crime, including drug trafficking and forging credit cards, authorities said.

Spanish authorities said the group was not planning an imminent attack. Train bombings in Madrid last year killed 191 people and wounded some 1,500 in Spain's worst terrorist attack, which has been blamed on Islamic militants linked to al-Qaida, reports the AP. I.L.