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Guilty verdicts over Madrid bombs Guilty verdicts over Madrid bombs
(20 minutes later)
A Spanish court has delivered its first guilty verdicts in the trial of suspects in the Madrid train bombings of March 2004. A Spanish court has delivered guilty verdicts on four of the leading defendants over the Madrid train bombings of March 2004.
Moroccan Jamal Zougam and Spaniard Emilio Trashorras were found guilty of murder in the initial verdicts. Moroccan Jamal Zougam and Spaniard Emilio Trashorras were among those found guilty of murder.
Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, one of the accused masterminds, was acquitted. But Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, one of the accused masterminds, was acquitted.
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.
There were 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.There were 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.
Four men of Arab origin were found guilty of planning and carrying out the attacks and given 30 years for each of the 191 people killed and 18 years for each of the 1,841 injured. 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
Four men were found guilty of planning and carrying out the attacks and given 30 years for each of the 191 people killed and 18 years for each of the 1,841 injured.
The BBC's Pascale Harter in Madrid says the terms were largely symbolic as under Spanish law the maximum term that can be served is 40 years.The BBC's Pascale Harter in Madrid says the terms were largely symbolic as under Spanish law the maximum term that can be served is 40 years.
Of the nine Spaniards on trial, three were acquitted through lack of evidence. Of the nine Spaniards on trial, three were acquitted through lack of evidence. But Trashorras was sentenced to thousands of years for supplying the explosives.
Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, known as "Mohamed the Egyptian", was acquitted but is in prison in Italy after being convicted of belonging to an international terrorist group.
Six other suspects were acquitted on all charges and a further 14 convicted of lesser charges, including membership of a terrorist group.
Eta ruled outEta ruled out
Security forces were on alert in Spain as the court in Madrid began delivering its verdict at 1130 (1030 GMT) on Wednesday.Security forces were on alert in Spain as the court in Madrid began delivering its verdict at 1130 (1030 GMT) on Wednesday.
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 The defendants
In his summary, Judge Javier Gomez Bermudez said there was no evidence of involvement by the Spanish separatist group Eta.In his summary, Judge Javier Gomez Bermudez said there was no evidence of involvement by the Spanish separatist group Eta.
The judge also said that all, if not almost all, the explosives used came from one source - a Spanish mine.The judge also said that all, if not almost all, the explosives used came from one source - a Spanish mine.
The judge said that one backpack that did not detonate and supplied vital evidence was definitely linked to the attacks.The judge said that one backpack that did not detonate and supplied vital evidence was definitely linked to the attacks.
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.
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.