News, January 2008

Madrid bomb trial ends - 3 life sentences, several absolved

31 October. The long-awaited conclusion to the Madrid bombings trial has finally arrived. After six long months, the judges concluded that the bombings on 11th March, 2004 which killed 191 and wounded another 1850, were the work of an islamic group. There was no involvement of the Basque terrorist band, ETA, but rather all the explosive was stolen from a mine in Asturias by Emilio Suárez Trashorras. Otman El Gnaoui was also condemned for his part in supplying the eventual killers. The only survivor of the killers who has been identified is Jamal Zougam. All three got long life sentences.

The remainder of the accused got off more lightly, but the shock for victims is that the supposed brains behind the attack, Rabei Osman 'El Egipcio' -currently serving a sentence in Italy- was absolved on lack of convincing evidence. The rest of the bombers are assumed to have died in the suicide explosion which blew apart their refuge in Leganés, south of Madrid.

The vicitms got between 30,000 Euros and one and a half million, according to their injuries and disabilities. However, their first reactions show they are very unhappy about the low sentences and absolutions for some of the accused and feel justice has not been done. Family members of the dead will get 900,000 Euros.

In short, the conclusions reached by the court are similar to those attained in the Parliamentary commitee and it is now hard to imagine that this will be taken much further. A dark chapter in recent Spanish history closes, although much confusion remains on what really happened and who was involved.

Read all about the attacks in our comment column.