Spain asks Italy to hand over bombing suspect

22 September 2006

MADRID — Spanish authorities asked Italy to hand over Rabei Osman El Sayed, alias “Mohammed the Egyptian”, who is accused of playing a key role in the Madrid bombings.

The terrorist attacks on four commuter trains left 191 dead.

Judicial officials said on Friday they chose to deliver the petition at this time to guarantee that the defendant would be in Spain for the expected start of the trial in February 2007.

Osman, who was arrested in Milan in June 2004 and is considered one of the masterminds of the Madrid train bombings, is charged in Spain with 191 counts of murder, 1,755 counts of attempted murder and other offences.

Already in custody are the 28 other people indicted so far, who include 15 Moroccans, nine Spaniards, two Syrians, an Algerian and a Lebanese.

Osman was previously handed over to Spain on a temporary basis on Dec. 7, 2004, so that investigating magistrate Juan del Olmo could question him and carry out other judicial procedures that required his presence, after which he was returned to Italy in April, 2005.

Osman is also being tried in Italy on charges of belonging to a terrorist cell.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news