By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan said Thursday that it is in contact with the Spanish authorities on its nine nationals arrested for planning terrorist attacks in Spain and other European countries.
“Pakistan mission in Madrid has pursued the matter with the host government. The Spanish government has allowed consular access to the detainees by our mission,” said Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq.
Twelve Pakistanis were took into custody by Spanish police in Barcelona on Jan. 18, 2008 on the suspicion of planning terror attacks in Spain and other European countries.
Among the 12 detained, nine were produced in the Madrid anti-terrorist court for hearing on Jan. 23, while others were released for insufficient evidence. The Spanish authorities claimed to have recovered bomb-making material and timing devices from the detained people.
“Apparently, the detainees belonged to the Tablighi Jamaat and some off them had been resident in the country for many years. They were reported to be illegal migrants,” Sadiq told a regular news briefing.
Tablighi Jamaat refers to an extremist Muslim movement.
Sadiq said the detainees, who are in three different jails, were met by Pakistan’s consular officials, and Pakistani embassy in Spain also requested the Spanish authorities to allow the families of the detainees to establish contact with them.