Sri Lanka, Dec. 28 -- Italian police have arrested nine people accused of raising around €7m (£6m) for Hamas over more than two years.

The money was ostensibly collected as humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, a police statement said, but was instead sent to the militant group via a "complex fundraising system".

Alongside the arrests, police say they have seized more than €8m (£7m) in assets as part of the investigation.

Police say the suspects are "specifically accused of carrying out financing operations believed to have contributed to terrorist activities".

The arrests were made as part of a joint initiative between Italy's counter-terror police and financial police.

The investigation began after the 7...