Baghdad  - Iraqi security forces arrested eight members of an armed group linked to al-Qaeda and found a place where they make their explosive devices in the northern city of Kirkuk, a police officer said Thursday.

"During a security operation, eight members of the Islamic State of Iraq were arrested and investigations led the Iraqi forces to a building that contained chemicals, batteries and other materials used in the manufacture of explosive devices and car bombs," said Jamal Taher, head of Kirkuk's police.

Iraqi forces also arrested the man responsible for funding the group, Taher told the German Press Agency dpa, adding that there was one woman among the suspects.

Other security operations were launched inside and outside Kirkuk, in which several suspects and wanted men were arrested, Taher added.

The Islamic State of Iraq is mainly active in Baghdad, Anbar and Kirkuk. It has allied itself with other armed groups, including al- Qaeda in Iraq, targeting Christians and US forces.

Earlier this month, Iraqi security forces arrested five suspected al-Qaeda militants from the village of al-Dibs, north of the oil rich city of Kirkuk.

Some 40 kilometres to the south of Kirkuk, in the village of Yirghun al-Kabir, Iraqi and US forces launched a joint raid that netted another three suspected insurgents. (dpa)