Senegal authorities arrest 7 for suspected extremism ties

A Senegalese judge says seven persons have been arrested in the West African country for suspected ties to extremism.

Investigating judge Samba Sall said yesterday that he presided over a hearing Friday for the seven charged with criminal conspiracy, money laundering and financing terrorism.

He said the suspects were arrested last month following investigations by Senegalese security forces.

Local media reported that the gendarme investigation shows those arrested have contact with a Nigerian who has ties to the Nigeria-based Islamic extremist group Boko Haram.

The group has killed thousands in its six-year insurgency and now is launching attacks in neighbouring countries Chad, Cameroon and Niger.