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Madrid trial suspects deny guilt Madrid trial suspects deny guilt
(about 2 hours later)
Two key suspects in the trial of 29 people accused of participating in the 2004 Madrid train attacks which killed 191 people have denied involvement. Two more alleged masterminds behind the deadly Madrid train bombings in 2004 have denied any involvement in the attacks that killed 191 people.
Youssef Belhadj said he had no links to militant groups and denied being the European spokesman for al-Qaeda, as the authorities have claimed. Moroccan Youssef Belhadj denied claims of having links to militant groups and being al-Qaeda's spokesman in Europe.
Hassan el-Haski also denied involvement and said a Moroccan militant group he is accused of leading did not exist. Hassan el-Haski, another Moroccan, also denied involvement. Egypt's Rabei Osman, a third alleged mastermind, declared his innocence on Thursday.
Twenty-nine people are charged over the blasts in the Spanish capital.
Also on Friday, one of the alleged bombers, Morocco's Jamal Zougam, denied any involvement.
The trial began on Thursday and is expected to last a number of months.The trial began on Thursday and is expected to last a number of months.
More than 1,700 people were injured in the multiple bomb attacks on four rush-hour trains in Madrid in March 2004.More than 1,700 people were injured in the multiple bomb attacks on four rush-hour trains in Madrid in March 2004.
TRIAL IN FIGURES 29 men on trialSix charged with 191 counts of murder and 1,755 of attempted murderOne is charged with 192 counts of murder and 1,755 of attempted murderThey face up to 40,000 years in jail each22 others face lesser terror-linked chargesAbout 600 witnesses and 100 experts will give evidenceThe indictment itself is 100,000 pages long Madrid bombs: Defendants Investigators in Spain have attributed the attacks to a local cell of Islamic extremists inspired by al-Qaeda. TRIAL IN FIGURES 29 men on trialSix charged with 191 counts of murder and 1,755 of attempted murderOne is charged with 192 counts of murder and 1,755 of attempted murderThey face up to 40,000 years in jail each22 others face lesser terror-linked chargesAbout 600 witnesses and 100 experts will give evidenceThe indictment itself is 100,000 pages long Madrid bombs: Defendants
Mr Belhadj, a Moroccan, is charged with 191 murders and 1,755 attempted murders. Investigators in Spain have attributed the attacks to a local cell of Islamic extremists inspired by al-Qaeda.
Mr Belhadj is charged with 191 murders and 1,755 attempted murders.
Appearing in the court on the outskirts of Madrid Mr Belhadj said: "I condemn the attacks and all kinds of violence."Appearing in the court on the outskirts of Madrid Mr Belhadj said: "I condemn the attacks and all kinds of violence."
He was arrested on 1 February 2005 in Belgium and later extradited to Spain.He was arrested on 1 February 2005 in Belgium and later extradited to Spain.
The authorities believe he could be Aby Dujanah, al-Qaeda's purported European spokesman who claimed responsibility for the Madrid attacks on a videotape days after the attacks.The authorities believe he could be Aby Dujanah, al-Qaeda's purported European spokesman who claimed responsibility for the Madrid attacks on a videotape days after the attacks.
He is also thought to be a member of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, which authorities said played a part in the train bombings. The group has also been blamed for the 2003 Casablanca bombings.He is also thought to be a member of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, which authorities said played a part in the train bombings. The group has also been blamed for the 2003 Casablanca bombings.
'Family coerced''Family coerced'
Mr Belhadj denied having any terror links, or knowing any of the other key suspects on trial.Mr Belhadj denied having any terror links, or knowing any of the other key suspects on trial.
"I am a normal Muslim," he said."I am a normal Muslim," he said.
Mr Belhadj said two members of his family had named him as a member of al-Qaeda only after the Spanish authorities detained and terrified the whole family.Mr Belhadj said two members of his family had named him as a member of al-Qaeda only after the Spanish authorities detained and terrified the whole family.
Eyewitness view of trialEyewitness view of trial
"They were insulted and threatened that they would be taken back to Morocco," Mr Belhadj was quoted by AP as saying. "So if I were in their shoes... I would have said things like that.""They were insulted and threatened that they would be taken back to Morocco," Mr Belhadj was quoted by AP as saying. "So if I were in their shoes... I would have said things like that."
Mr Haski, also from Morocco, was detained in the Canary Islands on 11 December 2004. Mr Haski was detained in the Canary Islands on 11 December 2004.
He is also charged with charged with 191 murders and 1,755 attempted murders and he is suspected of being a leading member of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group.He is also charged with charged with 191 murders and 1,755 attempted murders and he is suspected of being a leading member of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group.
However, appearing in the dock Mr Haski said the group "does not exist." However, appearing in the dock Mr Haski said the Moroccan militant group he is accused of leading "does not exist."
"The group is a fiction," he added."The group is a fiction," he added.
The trial began on Thursday with testimony from Rabei Osman, who denied any involvement and condemned the attacks.
All three of the key suspects answered questions posed by their defence lawyers having refused to answer any from the prosecution.
On Friday, Mr Zougam, accused of being one of the bombers, declared his innocence.
"It's impossible I was there. I was asleep at home," he told the court.
Defence questionsDefence questions
The pair are two of 29 people, most of them Moroccan, accused of involvement in the train bombing plot, which saw 10 bombs contained in rucksacks being detonated on four commuter trains. In all, 29 people, most of them Moroccan, are accused of involvement in the train bombing plot, which saw 10 bombs contained in rucksacks being detonated on four commuter trains.
Seven key suspects, including Mr Belhadj and Mr Haski, face charges of murder and belonging to a terrorist group.Seven key suspects, including Mr Belhadj and Mr Haski, face charges of murder and belonging to a terrorist group.
Twenty-two others face lesser terror-linked charges including collaborating with a terrorist group and handling explosives. Eleven of them are from Morocco, eight from Spain and one each from Algeria, Syria and Lebanon.Twenty-two others face lesser terror-linked charges including collaborating with a terrorist group and handling explosives. Eleven of them are from Morocco, eight from Spain and one each from Algeria, Syria and Lebanon.
On Thursday the first defendant, Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, also said he had no link to the blasts.
All three have answered questions posed by their defence lawyers having refused to answer any from the prosecution.
The trial is expected to hear from hundreds of witnesses and police experts.The trial is expected to hear from hundreds of witnesses and police experts.
A verdict is not expected before October.A verdict is not expected before October.