22 October 2004

MADRID - Members of a cell of Islamic radicals accused of plotting to blow up Spain's national court were planning to build the bombs in a rented flat, legal sources said Friday.

The Islamic extremists tried to rent the flat in Almeria, in southern Spain and attack the Audiencia Nacional, the country's highest criminal court which hears terrorist cases.

Meanwhile, a suspected Islamic extremist detained in Switzerland on suspicion of plotting the same bomb attack has opposed his extradition to Spain, Swiss authorities said Friday.

The Swiss federal justice department said that the suspect's refusal during a hearing in Zurich followed the arrest warrant filed by Spanish authorities.

His opposition is likely to extend extradition proceedings for several months, officials have said.

Madrid must now make a formal extradition request within 40 days. 

After the Swiss justice department rules on the Spanish move, the suspect will have the opportunity to appeal against the extradition to Switzerland's supreme court.

Spanish authorities have named the man as Mohamed Achraf, a 30-year-old Algerian national believed to be a member of the Islamic Armed Group (GIA).

In Madrid, Judge Baltasar Garzón, Spain's top anti-terrorist judge, was expected to hear evidence from ten Islamic suspects at court Friday.

But the judge has delayed the hearing until later Friday while he examines police evidence about the alleged bomb plot.

Garzon has to read ten volumes of evidence and examine various items seized by police in raids earlier this week.

The judge has ordered that the suspects should be isolated in various prisons.

Among those who were due to give evidence are Kamara Birahima, a Mauritian national.

A second suspect is Baldomero Lara, a Spaniard of gypsy origin, who is alleged to be the head of the group of Islamic radicals who were planning the attack on the court.

Another suspect due to appear before the judge is Algerian Said Afis, who claims to be an iman and was detained before in 2002.

He has ordered other Islamic prisoners to pray 24 hours a day

Other suspects include  Addila Mimon and Karim Faiz, who have allegedly organised other Islamic radical prisoners.

The remaining suspects are Eddebdoui Taoufik, Hoari Jera and three other suspects who were convicted by the Audiencia Nacional in 2001 for membership of the Algerian Isamic Armed Group, (GIA).

They were named as Abdelkrim Bensamail , Mohamed Amine Akli and Bachir Belhakem.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news