Police Identifies Six Moroccans as Authors of Madrid Blasts

Politics | March 16, 2004, Tuesday // 00:00

The Spanish police believe they have identified six citizens of Morocco as the men who carried out Thursday's train blasts in Madrid, which claimed the lives of more than 200 people, Spanish El Pais newspaper reported.

Five of the suspects are at large, but sixth one - Jamal Zeugma, natural of Tбnger, is already prisoner. He was identified by passengers in one of the trains, ripped through by a bomb. Two survivors of the blast said they saw him before the explosions took place.

The authorities have also verified the authenticity of the videotape of the "al Qaeda spokesman", which claimed responsibility for Madrid bombings, it was reported, citing an unnamed source from the terror combat services. According to the source Jordanian national Abu Musab Al Zarkaui, main suspect for the attacks in Iraq, is believed to be the mastermind of the blasts in Madrid.

Interior Ministry officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

On Sunday Spain published the names of the five men detained a day earlier in connection to the March 11 bombings in Madrid. It was then reported that Jamal Zougam, said to be a key figure in plotting the deadly attacks, and the other two Moroccan detainees have criminal records, but Zougam has been pointed as the one most closely linked to al Qaeda. Media even said that Zougam, aged 30, was in contact with the al Qaeda chief for Spain.

The other Moroccans were named Mohamed Betfali and Mohamed Cahoui, and there are two Indian arrestees - Vinay Kohlu and Sureh Komar.

An Algerian who allegedly talked about a terrorist attack in Madrid two months before it happened has also been detained, police officials announced.

Also today Spain backed off in its claims that only the Basque separatist group ETA was responsible for the Madrid train bombings.

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