Seven Pakistanis held in Spain over terror links

Spanish media says Pakistani nationals held for alleged links to 2008 Mumbai attacks.

MADRID: Spanish police have arrested at least seven Pakistanis suspected of links to those responsible for the 2008 attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people, Spanish media said on Wednesday.

Anti-terrorist officers detained the suspects in raids in and around the northeastern city of Barcelona late on Tuesday, the newspaper El Pais said. It said seven Pakistani nationals were held, while the daily El Mundo said eight were arrested during the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.

Both papers, quoting sources close to the investigation, said the suspects were involved in falsifying documents, including passports, for organisations linked to al Qaeda in various countries, including the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba that has been accused of plotting the Mumbai attacks.

Ten militants killed at least 166 people in three days of violence in the Indian city in November, 2008. Spanish police did not immediately confirm the information but said a statement would be issued later Wednesday.