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Guilty verdicts over Madrid bombs Guilty verdicts over Madrid bombs
(10 minutes later)
A Spanish court has sentenced three men to thousands of years in jail for their part in the Madrid train bombings of March 2004.A Spanish court has sentenced three men to thousands of years in jail for their part in the Madrid train bombings of March 2004.
Moroccans Jamal Zougam and Otman el Ghanoui and Spaniard Emilio Trashorras were found guilty of murder. Moroccans Jamal Zougam and Otman el Ghanoui and Spaniard Emilio Trashorras were convicted of murder, but suspected mastermind Rabei Ahmed was acquitted.
But Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, one of the accused masterminds, was acquitted. Twenty-eight people faced trial over the blasts on four trains that killed 191 and injured 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. Spain's PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said that "justice was done".
All the accused pleaded innocent during the four-month trial.All the accused pleaded innocent during the four-month trial.
Twenty-one were found guilty of a least one charge and seven were acquitted. One person was acquitted earlier.Twenty-one were found guilty of a least one charge and seven were acquitted. One person was acquitted earlier.
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 The defendants Send us your reactionMADRID 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 Send us your reaction
Trashorras - who supplied the explosives - Zougam and Ghanoui were found guilty of murder and given thousands of years in jail.Trashorras - who supplied the explosives - Zougam and Ghanoui were found guilty of murder and given thousands of years in jail.
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.
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.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.
After the verdicts Mr Zapatero said: "Today justice was done and we must now look to the future.
"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."
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 across Spain as the court in Madrid began delivering its verdict at 1130 (1030 GMT) on Wednesday.
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.