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| Madrid train bombs verdict begins | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Security forces are on alert in Spain as a court began delivering its verdict on the March 2004 Madrid train bombs, the country's largest terror trial. | |
| A three-judge panel began reading out its verdict and sentences at 1130 (1030 GMT) on Wednesday. | |
| Twenty-eight people faced trial over the devastating nail-bomb blasts that hit four commuter trains, killing 191 people and injuring more than 1,800. | Twenty-eight people faced trial over the devastating nail-bomb blasts that hit four commuter trains, killing 191 people and injuring more than 1,800. |
| All the accused pleaded innocent during the four-month trial. | All the accused pleaded innocent during the four-month trial. |
| 'Doubts remain' | 'Doubts remain' |
| There are 28 defendants, 27 men and one woman, 19 mostly Moroccan Arabs and nine Spaniards, who faced charges including murder, forgery and conspiracy to commit a terrorist attack over the 11 March 2004 blasts. | |
| MADRID TRAIN BOMBINGS Bombs killed 191 people, injured 1,841Ten backpacks filled with dynamite and nails blew up on four packed commuter trainsTwenty-eight on trial - 19 Arabs, mostly Moroccans, and nine SpaniardsSeven top suspects blew themselves up during police raid in April 2004Prosecutors believe bombings were an Islamist plotAll defendants pleaded innocent class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/4899544.stm">The defendants | |
| The top eight defendants each face nearly 39,000 years in jail if found guilty on all charges, but under Spanish law the maximum sentence for terrorism is 40 years. | The top eight defendants each face nearly 39,000 years in jail if found guilty on all charges, but under Spanish law the maximum sentence for terrorism is 40 years. |
| Spanish investigators say the accused were part of a local Islamist militant group inspired by al-Qaeda, but had no direct links to the terror organisation. | Spanish investigators say the accused were part of a local Islamist militant group inspired by al-Qaeda, but had no direct links to the terror organisation. |
| Fourteen of the accused went on hunger strike during the trial, in protest against what they called unjust accusations against them. | Fourteen of the accused went on hunger strike during the trial, in protest against what they called unjust accusations against them. |
| Seven suspected ringleaders died in a suicide blast in a Madrid apartment three weeks after the attacks. | Seven suspected ringleaders died in a suicide blast in a Madrid apartment three weeks after the attacks. |
| Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero says he hopes the ruling will "give a definitive answer to those who have put forth absurd and despicable doubts about 11 March". | Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero says he hopes the ruling will "give a definitive answer to those who have put forth absurd and despicable doubts about 11 March". |
| Many Spaniards still have serious doubts about who was behind the attacks, says the BBC's Danny Wood in Madrid. | Many Spaniards still have serious doubts about who was behind the attacks, says the BBC's Danny Wood in Madrid. |
| Some theories - supported by a number of victims - suggest they were part of a coup d'etat involving Spain's secret services. | Some theories - supported by a number of victims - suggest they were part of a coup d'etat involving Spain's secret services. |
| But many others believe the verdict will clear up such doubts, and regard it as a key step towards recovery, our correspondent says. | But many others believe the verdict will clear up such doubts, and regard it as a key step towards recovery, our correspondent says. |
| Memorial services are planned for a week after the verdict. | Memorial services are planned for a week after the verdict. |