30 Tried in Spain in Court Bombing Plot
Legal World
Thirty people went on trial Monday for allegedly plotting to blow up a court that is the hub of Spain's anti-terror investigations.
The 30 men, mostly Algerians, have been charged with membership of a terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit a terrorist attack and forgery.
The alleged mastermind Abderrahmane Tahiri, alias Mohamed Achraf, was extradited from Switzerland in April 2005.
Spanish authorities suspect Tahiri planned to ram a truck loaded with 1,100 pounds of explosives into the National Court in downtown Madrid.
"This was an organized and structured terrorist group, uncovered in November 2003, with radical Salafist tendencies, which defended the jihad (holy war) and intended carrying it out in Spain through violent actions such as that planned against the National Court and the persons within," according to the indictment.
"With that explosion, they hoped to kill the persons within (judges, clerks and public in general) and destroy the files held against the 'mujahedeen brotherhood' inside," the indictment said.
Investigating magistrate Fernando Grande-Marlaska said such an attack could have killed up to 1,000 people.
The prosecution is demanding sentences of between two and 46 years for the accused.
The trial is expected to last several months.
Police uncovered the alleged plot with the help of an unnamed informant who had lived with some of the accused.
In an initial investigation, Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon claimed Tahiri set up a cell known as the "Martyrs for Morocco" while he served time in a Spanish prison for credit card fraud between 1999 and 2002.
Garzon said the cell had links with other Islamic terrorists, including the group believed to be behind the March 11 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people.
Related listings
-
Gore to learn whether he'll win Nobel Peace Prize
Legal World 10/11/2007They say they love his advocacy for the environment, his intellect and sense of humor. The people urging Al Gore to run for president have not persuaded him to do so — not yet anyway.The latest salvo from those hoping Gore would reprise his 2000 run ...
-
U.S. court threatens Arar's bid for redress
Legal World 10/10/2007The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear the appeal of a German man who says he was tortured as part of Washington's practice of "extraordinary rendition,'' a move that could derail Maher Arar's quest for justice in this country.The court, without ...
-
North Koreans agree to disable nuclear facilities
Legal World 10/04/2007North Korea has agreed to disable all of its nuclear facilities by the end of the year, in a move that the Bush administration hailed as a diplomatic victory that could serve as a model for how to deal with Iran, which has defied American efforts to ...
Victorville CA DUI defense Attorneys
The outcome of a DUI defense will have a long-term effect on anyone’s life, making the decision to receive legal representation an easy one. The fact is, most people accused of a DUI are first offenders with no criminal background. Whether this is your first run in with the law or you have had previous convictions, you are in need of a DUI defense attorney.
The charges you are facing for a DUI range from fines, a 12-month suspension on your license and worst-case scenario, prison time. Your attorney will be able to analyze your situation to decide the best way to go about your case.
Our attorneys know the tricky ways to challenge all of the DUI tests and know how to claim improper collection of evidence. We will be able to negotiate on your behalf and free you from charges and help you keep your drivers license. The DUI process can last up to several months, we can make this process easier on you. .