Voice of America quoted that country's official news agency stating that the men were "planning to carry out [terror] acts" in the country. As well as this they were also planning to recruit others into the terrorist organizations.
It did not disclose what precise nationalities the seven men were, merely saying there were of "Arab nationalities."
The group also appeared to have operated a front to provide logistical and monetary support in order to help al-Qaeda increase its influence and activities in the gulf region.
However in
the BBC's report on this incident an Emirates activist was quoting as saying "it was highly unlikely" that al-Qaeda was operating in the region. This activist instead stated that, "I don't put any credibility in what state security says. These kinds of arrests are a pretext for repression."
