3 February 2005

GENEVA - An Algerian man suspected of plotting to bomb Spain's highest court will appeal against his extradition from Switzerland.

Mohammed Achraf's appeal will be lodged with the Federal Court, Switzerland's highest court, his lawyer Pierre-Marie Waldvogel said.

Achraf had 30 days from last Friday, when the Swiss government decided to extradite him to Spain, to appeal the decision. The court could take several months to decide on the case.

He is alleged to have headed a network of eight Islamic extremists that was broken up in Spain in October, shortly before the Spanish extradition request.

The cell allegedly plotted a bomb attack against Spain's National Audience, its highest court, and is said to have had links in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Australia.

Achraf applied for asylum in Switzerland in 2003 under the name Kamel Saadi, then went undercover after this was rejected.

He was arrested on 28 August last year at Zurich airport in possession of false papers in the name of Kamel Saadi, and was initially held as an illegal immigrant.

Five days later, Swiss security services identified him as Mohammed Achraf and placed him in custody under high security.

Spanish authorities suspect Achraf of being the head of an Islamist group called the "Martyrs of Maroc" which planned to blow up a truck filled with half a tonne of explosives near Spain's highest court.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news