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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Madrid train bombing trial begins | Madrid train bombing trial begins |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The trial of 29 people accused of involvement in train bombings that killed 191 people in March 2004 has begun in the Spanish capital, Madrid. | The trial of 29 people accused of involvement in train bombings that killed 191 people in March 2004 has begun in the Spanish capital, Madrid. |
| Seven of the suspects, most of whom are Moroccan, will face charges of murder and belonging to a terrorist group. | Seven of the suspects, most of whom are Moroccan, will face charges of murder and belonging to a terrorist group. |
| The other 22 face charges including collaborating with a terrorist group and handling explosives. | The other 22 face charges including collaborating with a terrorist group and handling explosives. |
| More than 1,700 people were injured in the multiple bomb attacks, which targeted four Madrid rush-hour trains. | More than 1,700 people were injured in the multiple bomb attacks, which targeted four Madrid rush-hour trains. |
| Investigators in Spain have attributed the attacks to a local cell of Islamic extremists inspired by al-Qaeda. | Investigators in Spain have attributed the attacks to a local cell of Islamic extremists inspired by al-Qaeda. |
| Suspects' suicides | Suspects' suicides |
| The case is Europe's biggest trial of alleged Islamic militants. It is expected to last several months and hear from hundreds of witnesses and police experts. | The case is Europe's biggest trial of alleged Islamic militants. It is expected to last several months and hear from hundreds of witnesses and police experts. |
| Madrid bombs: Defendants Five Moroccans and a Syrian are charged with 191 murders and 1,755 attempted murders. | Madrid bombs: Defendants Five Moroccans and a Syrian are charged with 191 murders and 1,755 attempted murders. |
| A Spaniard believed to have supplied the explosives is accused of 192 murders - the 191 who died in the bombings and a policeman killed when seven key suspects committed suicide in a raid on a flat three weeks later - and 1,755 attempted murders. | A Spaniard believed to have supplied the explosives is accused of 192 murders - the 191 who died in the bombings and a policeman killed when seven key suspects committed suicide in a raid on a flat three weeks later - and 1,755 attempted murders. |
| Two of these seven - Jamal Zougam and Abdelmajid Bouchar - are accused of actually planting bombs. | Two of these seven - Jamal Zougam and Abdelmajid Bouchar - are accused of actually planting bombs. |
| The seven suspects who died in the flat explosion in April 2004 included the alleged plot mastermind, Tunisian Serhane ben Abdelmajid Fakhet. | The seven suspects who died in the flat explosion in April 2004 included the alleged plot mastermind, Tunisian Serhane ben Abdelmajid Fakhet. |
| Refusal to speak | Refusal to speak |
| Of the remaining 22 defendants on trial, 11 are from Morocco, eight from Spain and one each from Algeria, Syria and Lebanon. | Of the remaining 22 defendants on trial, 11 are from Morocco, eight from Spain and one each from Algeria, Syria and Lebanon. |
| I am not going to answer any questions, including those of my defence counsel, nor will I be co-operative Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, defendant | |
| Lawyers representing the accused have said that all 29 will deny the charges. | Lawyers representing the accused have said that all 29 will deny the charges. |
| However as the trial got under way the first to appear in the dock, Moroccan Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, also known as "Mohamed The Egyptian" refused to enter a plea and declared that he would not answer any questions put to him. | |
| "Your honour, with all due respect, I don't recognise any of the accusations or any of the charges. With all due respect to the presiding judge and the bench, I am not going to answer any questions, including those of my defence counsel, nor will I be co-operative," he said through a Spanish translator. | "Your honour, with all due respect, I don't recognise any of the accusations or any of the charges. With all due respect to the presiding judge and the bench, I am not going to answer any questions, including those of my defence counsel, nor will I be co-operative," he said through a Spanish translator. |
| The majority of the defendants arrived at the court on the western outskirts of Madrid together in a heavily guarded police van. | The majority of the defendants arrived at the court on the western outskirts of Madrid together in a heavily guarded police van. |
| Once inside the courtroom they were led to seats inside a specially prepared bullet-proof glass box. | Once inside the courtroom they were led to seats inside a specially prepared bullet-proof glass box. |
| The legal documents have been digitised and will be projected on to screens during the court sessions, which are being broadcast live on national television, radio and the internet | |
| On Tuesday, Spanish officials raised the country's security alert level from low to medium ahead of the trial and the third anniversary of the attacks on 11 March. | On Tuesday, Spanish officials raised the country's security alert level from low to medium ahead of the trial and the third anniversary of the attacks on 11 March. |
| Extra police and soldiers will be stationed at key public areas, and water supply and power plants, while the elevated alert is in place, the interior ministry said. | Extra police and soldiers will be stationed at key public areas, and water supply and power plants, while the elevated alert is in place, the interior ministry said. |