Spanish police unearth ring believed linked to Islamic State in jails

Madrid (dpa) - Spanish security forces were able to break up a criminal ring operating in various prisons that is suspected of having ties to the Islamic State extremist group.The 25 suspects located in 17 different detention facilities are accused of trying to radicalize and recruit other inmates for their cause, the Spanish Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.According to the statement by the ministry, this is the first operation of its kind in Europe, which required close collaboration between law enforcement officers and the detention centres.Some of the suspects are Spanish nationals who had converted to Islam, the ministry said. The group is rated as a "potential safety risk," especially because some members were expecting their release soon.