MADRID, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Interior Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that a Moroccan citizen with links to the Islamic State (IS) has been arrested in the town of Terrassa, close to Barcelona.

The ministry said that the 45-year-old man was held following a police operation which began in June 2017.

According to the official communique issued by the Interior Ministry, the man had published online that if he were not allowed to travel to fight in Syria, he would "kill six or seven Spaniards."

The detainee also expressed his support for the August 2017 attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils which claimed 16 lives, saying that he would do the same if he had a large van and referring to those who carried out the attacks as "brothers."

The Spanish national police also report the suspect had adopted "security measures" on his mobile phone and vehicle to avoid detection.