BBC News Online: World: Europe

Spanish police hold Bin Laden suspects

Most of the nine were arrested in Madrid

The suspects had been recruiting people to attend training camps and providing false papers for them, said Interior Minister Mariano Rajoy.

He described them as leaders of a Bin Laden-linked mujahideen movement in Spain.

The nine suspects have Tunisian, Algerian and Syrian backgrounds.

"The activities they were carrying out...were recruiting people to attend training camps and later commit terrorist acts and provide false documents to support people close to these groups," Mr Rajoy said.

Most or all of the arrests were made in Madrid, he said.

The arrests are the latest in a series across Europe, as authorities move against suspected links in Bin Laden's chain of operatives.

Strasbourg plot

Last week, five Algerian militants alleged to have links with Bin Laden were arrested in the French city of Strasbourg.

The four men and one woman were said to have been plotting to launch attacks in Strasbourg.

They were also suspected of organising the escape to Spain of Mohamed Besnakhria, an Algerian said to be one of Bin Laden's chief lieutenants in Europe.