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Guilty verdicts over Madrid bombs Guilty verdicts over Madrid bombs
(about 1 hour later)
A Spanish court has sentenced three men to thousands of years in jail for their part in the Madrid bombings in 2004.A Spanish court has sentenced three men to thousands of years in jail for their part in the Madrid bombings in 2004.
Moroccans Jamal Zougam and Otman el Ghanoui and Spaniard Emilio Trashorras were convicted of murder, but suspected mastermind Rabei Ahmed was acquitted.Moroccans Jamal Zougam and Otman el Ghanoui and Spaniard Emilio Trashorras were convicted of murder, but suspected mastermind Rabei Ahmed was acquitted.
A total of 28 people faced trial over the blasts on four trains that killed 191 and injured more than 1,800. Twenty-one - out of 28 on trial - were convicted and seven acquitted over the blasts on four trains that killed 191 and injured more than 1,800.
Twenty-one were found guilty of at least one charge and seven were acquitted. Victims' families said the accused had got off lightly.
Spain's PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said that "justice was done". All had pleaded not guilty to involvement in the Islamist attacks during the four-month trial.
All the accused had pleaded not guilty to involvement in the Islamist attacks during the four-month trial.
Abuse hurledAbuse hurled
Arriving amid heavy security to hear the result, relatives of the victims hurled abuse at the accused men, but a hush fell over the courtroom as the judge read out the verdicts.Arriving amid heavy security to hear the result, relatives of the victims hurled abuse at the accused men, but a hush fell over the courtroom as the judge read out the verdicts.
We are going to appeal against this mistake. I don't like to see killers walking free Pilar ManjonVictims' spokesperson
The announcement was broadcast live on Spanish television.The announcement was broadcast live on Spanish television.
The defendants, 27 men and one woman, 19 mostly Moroccan Arabs and nine Spaniards, had faced charges including murder, forgery and conspiracy to commit a terrorist attack.The defendants, 27 men and one woman, 19 mostly Moroccan Arabs and nine Spaniards, had faced charges including murder, forgery and conspiracy to commit a terrorist attack.
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 class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3763&edition=1">Send us your reaction Ex-miner Trashorras - who supplied the explosives - Zougam and Ghanoui were found guilty of murder, and sentenced to up to 43,000 years in jail each.
Spanish ex-miner Trashorras - who supplied the explosives - Zougam and Ghanoui were found guilty of murder, and sentenced to up to 43,000 years in jail each. The jail terms are 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, six were acquitted.Of the nine Spaniards on trial, six were acquitted.
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. Anger
After the verdicts Mr Zapatero said: "Today justice was done and we must now look to the future. Victims' groups were furious at the acquittals and perceived leniency of some of the sentences.
"The behaviour of security forces, judges and attorneys and of the staff of our judicial system has been exemplary. All Spaniards can feel proud of them." Alleged mastermind Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, known as "Mohamed the Egyptian", was found not guilty but is in prison in Italy after being convicted of belonging to an international terrorist group.
Compensation 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 class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3763&edition=1">Send us your reaction
Isabel Presa, who lost her youngest son in one of the blasts, said: "It has destroyed my life, it has condemned me and my husband to a life sentence, and these people get off scot-free."
The president of a victims' association, Pilar Manjon, who lost her 20-year-old son in the attacks, said: "We are going to appeal against this mistake. I don't like to see killers walking free."
But Spain's PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said "justice was done".
Security forces were on alert across Spain as the court in Madrid began delivering its verdict at 1130 (1030 GMT) on Wednesday.Security forces were on alert across Spain as the court in Madrid began delivering its verdict at 1130 (1030 GMT) on Wednesday.
Compensation
In his summary, Judge Javier Gomez Bermudez said that all, if not almost all, the explosives used came from one source - a Spanish mine.In his summary, Judge Javier Gomez Bermudez said that all, if not almost all, the explosives used came from one source - a Spanish mine.
Compensation for victims ranging from 30,000 euros (£21,000) to 1.5m euros (£1.04m) was announced.Compensation for victims ranging from 30,000 euros (£21,000) to 1.5m euros (£1.04m) was announced.
The judge also said there was no evidence of involvement by the Spanish separatist group Eta. Analysts say the attacks changed the course of Spanish politics because in an election three days later voters ditched a conservative government that at first blamed the bombs on the Spanish separatist group Eta.
Analysts say the attacks changed the course of Spanish politics as in an election three days afterwards voters ditched a conservative government that at first blamed the bombs on Eta.
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.
They had acted to avenge the presence of Spanish troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, said investigators.They had acted to avenge the presence of Spanish troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, said investigators.
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.
There were originally 29 people on trial but charges were later dropped against one defendant for lack of evidence.There were originally 29 people on trial but charges were later dropped against one defendant for lack of evidence.