Spain Charges 3 in Deadly Train Bombings

[JohnLocke]

Spain Charges 3 in Deadly Train Bombings
By Maria Jesus Prades -- Associated Press
Friday March 19, 2004
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MADRID -- A judge charged three Moroccans with at least 190 counts of murder in last week's Spanish train bombings and ordered them and two Indians jailed Friday pending an investigation that could last two years, a court official said.
The judge's decision, which stops short of a formal indictment, is the first indication the government has strong evidence linking the Moroccans to the worst terror attack in Spain's history. The March 11 attacks killed 202 people.
During an all-night, closed-courtroom session, the five denied any connections to the bombings, saying they were sleeping at the time of the attacks, the official said on condition of anonymity.
Suspicion for the bombings has centered on Moroccan extremists said to be linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network. In an unauthenticated videotape, a man claiming to speak for al-Qaida said the group carried out the attack in reprisal for Spain's backing of the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
(...)
Key suspect Jamal Zougam, a Moroccan, stared down and wept during the hearing, while another Moroccan suspect, Mohamed Bekkali, shouted: "I am innocent! I am innocent!" during his arrival, the court official said.
The third Moroccan suspect is Mohamed Chaoui, according to authorities in that country. Chaoui told the judge he had few contacts with Zougam, his half-brother, whom he described as deeply religious.
The Moroccans were charged with 190 killings, 1,400 attempted killings, and membership in a terrorist group, the official said after the hearing before National Court Judge Juan del Olmo.
The killings charges reflect the number of bodies identified so far. The attempted killings charges are based on the number of people injured by the morning rush-hour blasts.
(...)
The El Pais newspaper reported Friday that police searching the telephone services shop where Zougam and Bekkali worked found a piece of a cell phone used in a backpack bomb left on a train. The bomb did not explode and the cell phone, which apparently was set to connect to a detonator, was recovered and analyzed, the newspaper reported, citing police sources.
(...)
The judge's decision to charge the five means they can be held for two years while investigators gather evidence. The judge can then extend the detention for another two years.
All five men were barred from contact with lawyers and family.
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Resd the rest here.

[Turbineguy]

1. Hey wait a minute!

They're not supposed to be arresting and trying these people for terrorism! They're supposed to be appeasing the terrorists! This is not the plan! How can we say that the election was a victory for terrorists if these people keep doing this? They are making us look like assholes!

OK, you Spaniards, let these guys go right now!

(oh, sorry, wrong forum, I thought I was on FR)

[JohnLocke]

2. Heh.

:thumbsup:

[AP]

3. Has anyone seen the names of the two Indian suspects? When they were

first caught they were described as Hindus. If this is true, it would require a serious reevaluation of some presumptions about what's going on.

The BBC removed this information right after posting it to their website, and since then I haven't seen the names of these guys anywhere, even though the Moroccan's names have been published.

[AP]

5. Vinay Kohly and Suresh Kumar -- Hindu names. Isn't that strange?

From the article:

The two Indians, identified by Spanish authorities as Vinay Kohly and Suresh Kumar, were charged with collaborating with a terrorist group and falsifying a sales document while committing fraud, the court official said without elaborating. They also were detained March 13.

Interesting.

Any theories?

[fujiyama]

6. It's possible...

they were in it for money, but I've also heard their only role may have been selling the cell phones and having no part in the terrorist attacks themselves.

[AP]

8. But, if a I read this correctly, the muslims owned the store that sold

the phones.

I'm sure this will all come out soon. However, it's my understanding that the muslim Moroccans owned the cell phone shop.

If you were trying to set up some muslims, it probabbly wouldn't be hard to find a couple who own a cell phone shop and who might have incriminating (but harmless) connections to people back home who are connected to some kind of political organization.

I emphasize that it's reckless to engage in connecture at this stage. However, I think it's important to stay flexible when considering the possibilities.

[leesa]

4. What a novel concept...arresting the criminals instead of bombing a

country unrelated to the crime for ten months. They must be communists.

[JohnLocke]

7. You deserve a toast!

Drink up! :beer: :beer: