Authorities in Algeria have dismantled a network that helped Islamic militants enter Spain using fake passports and visas, Algerian French-language daily Liberte reported on Friday. The group of about 20 people is suspected of providing support for the leading Islamic insurgents' group in Algeria, the Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), and militants of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), Said Rokbi, prosecutor in the Algerian suburb of Rouiba, told the AP news agency. These two groups have come under scrutiny in Europe for alleged involvement in attempted terror attacks.The network allegedly started its activity in 2000 but was only discovered by Algeria's anti-terror forces two months ago. The group provided false documents to Islamic militants who were being hunted by Algerian police and helped them flee the country, said Rokbi, confirming the Liberte report. Members of the group were brought before prosecutors in Rouiba on Wednesday ahead of a trial. According to Liberte, the operation could have involved dozens of militants who could have set up terror cells in Spain and other European countries in the meantime.
The Armed Islamic Group (GIA) has been almost entirely dismembered by the Algerian military and the Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which has sworn allegiace to al-Qaeda, has also seen its ranks reduced. A national reconciliation reform approved in September, more than a decade after the outbreak of Algerias 1990's civil war, allows militants to turn themselves in with impunity, provided they have not been involved in atrocities. Information provided by some of these militants reportedly helped the police track down members of the network.