Iraqi police in Ninawa province arrested eight suspected al-Qaeda members Tuesday (July 3rd).

The suspects are charged with forming a cell to extort money from citizens in order to finance terrorist attacks, officials said.

"The group was arrested when they moved among several jewellery shops and electric and electronic appliances shops in the al-Majmoua al-Thaqafiyya area in central Mosul," Ninawa police spokesperson Col. Khalid al-Hamdani said in a press conference.

"The group forcibly collected 7 million dinars ($6,000) from the owners of these shops," he said, noting that security forces have returned the money to the shop owners.