Tunis — A Jihadist terrorist network specialised in recruiting religious fanatics and sending them to strongholds of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb was dismantled, Interior Ministry spokesman Khaled Tarrouche announced, on Saturday, to the media.

Seven members of this Jihadist network had been arrested and brought to justice, Mr. Tarrouche specified, adding that hunting for the other members of this terrorist group are underway.

According to the investigation, a rented car with four people on board was intercepted, on Thursday, in the town Souilem of the Fernana delegation, in Jendouba Governorate, 12 kilometres from the Tunisian-Algerian border. Two of the car passengers were arrested and the other suspects escaped.

According to Mr. Khaled Tarrouche, the security forces found, on board of the car, four suitcases containing suspicious products as electrical wires, electric-chock equipments, explosives, documents and foodstuff.

After questioning, the two arrested suspects admitted their affiliation with the terrorist network which gathers religious fanatics set up in the Jendouba and Kef Governorates, often known as the "Jihadist Salafis," he added.

Following an intensive security campaign, five other members of this network had been arrested in possession of a gun, bullets, military uniforms, knives and maps, he pointed out.

Suspects had been brought, on December 13, before the public prosecutor, to the Tunis Court of First Instance and arrest warrants had been issued against them by the investigating judge, he also specified.