Moroccan police, in cooperation with Spanish security forces, have arrested a terrorist network suspected of links to ISIS, the Spanish Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

The arrests of four Moroccan men on Wednesday followed two years of police investigations and stemmed from monitoring two people who had lived in Spain but had gone to join ISIS in Syria and Iraq, the ministry said in a statement.

These two formed a recruiting cell and then established off-shoots in Spain and Morocco, each containing a further two members.

The two men arrested in Spain were charged with enlisting and indoctrinating recruits to fight in Syria and Iraq with the use of social media. They had direct contact with ISIS through the Syrian unit, the ministry said.

The two others were arrested in Morocco.

Spain has been on high alert and has stepped up security measures following militant attacks in Paris last year.
Spain has arrested around 40 people suspected of links with militants this year so far.