The News

Two Spaniards Arrested as They Returned to Europe from Syria

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows Syrian army soldiers flash the victory sign near their tank in the Sukkari neighborhood, east Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Dec 23, 2016. Syrian rebels outside Aleppo on Friday shelled a neighborhood in the northern city, killing three people in the first bombardment since government forces took control of the whole city after opposition fighters in the eastern parts withdrew, state TV reported. (SANA via AP)

The Spanish government says that Turkish authorities have arrested two Spanish women suspected of being part of the Islamic State group (I.S.) as they were leaving Syria accompanied by children.

Spain’s interior ministry said Wednesday that the two women had been tracked for two years since they left for Syria from Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in northern Africa, accompanied by their husbands.

According to the statement, the husbands are “prominent” I.S. members and the wives, who were also part of the I.S. structure, are considered “extraordinarily valuable assets” for the organization.

In a separate case, two people were arrested Wednesday in Madrid for lauding Islamic extremism. A video released by police showed agents finding parts of firearms and ammunition during the raid.