MADRID: The Interior Ministry says police have arrested nine suspected members of the Kurdish armed group PKK-KCK that operates in Syria and Turkey.

The PKK-KCK is considered a terrorist organisation by the European Union and the United States.

A ministry statement said the nine were arrested Wednesday in 11 raids in Madrid and in the port cities of northern Bilbao and eastern Valencia.

The statement said the police operation targeted the group's recruiting and training structure.