Nine suspected members of a terror cell linked to the Islamic State jihadist group have been arrested in Spain's North African enclave city of Melilla and the Moroccan city of Nador, Spain's Interior Ministry said today.

A statement said a National Court judge in Madrid had placed an order of secrecy on the joint-Moroccan/Spanish operation. No further details were provided.

Spain's Cadena SER Radio said those arrested include one Spaniard and eight Moroccans.

Spain has arrested dozens of suspected jihadist militants and recruiters in recent years, especially in Melilla and its other North African enclave, Ceuta.

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