PARIS, Dec. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- French anti-terrorism magistrates recently caught nine suspected Islamic militants for allegedly financing terrorism, judicial officials said Saturday.

    Anti-terrorism agents rounded up 25 people who were North African and French in a vast sweep in the Paris area and in the northern Oise region on Monday, said the officials.

    Among them 14 people were set free without charge, while the rest were under interrogation overnight Friday to Saturday for alleged criminal association with a terror enterprise and financing of terrorism. Two people were released later under judicial watch.

    Monday's operation was France's largest sweep of alleged Islamic militants in more than two years.

    All but one of the 11 suspects also faced criminal charges for attempted armed robbery and destruction of goods by explosives, the officials said.

    Several of those arrested have admitted during questioning to an Oct. 7 attempt to hold up an armored car in the town of Beauvais, north of Paris, the officials said.

    Investigators suspect that the group members carried out armed robberies to fund Islamic terror groups in France and abroad. Agents netted guns, ammunition, dynamite and other weapons outside Paris on Wednesday in a widening probe.

    Three other people with alleged links to the group were arrested Wednesday. Anti-terrorism judges would decide Sunday whether they would also be investigated. Enditem