Four more charged over Madrid blasts

A judge has charged four more suspects - three Moroccans and a Spaniard - with terrorism and mass killings over the Madrid bombings.

The charges came after six hours of questioning at Madrid's National Court, and bring to nine the number of people charged in connection with the March 11 railway bombings. Six are Moroccan.

Suspicion over the 10 bombs targeting Madrid commuter trains has focused on an alleged Morocco-based terrorist cell believed to have links to Osama bin Laden's al Qaida network and on al Qaida itself.

All three Moroccans questioned into the early hours of today denied being involved in the Madrid attacks. One left the courtroom in tears. Another said that when he learned of the attacks on the morning of March 11, he was at home watching cartoons with his children, court officials said.

The charges stop short of a formal indictment, but suggest the court has strong evidence against the suspects. They can remain in jail for two years while investigators gather more evidence.

A fifth suspect, also Moroccan, was released without charges.

All five suspects were arrested last Thursday.

A total of 13 people are now in custody over the bombings, which killed 202 people and injured more than 1,800. The latest four arrests came yesterday in Madrid. Those four, believed to be of North African origin, have yet to go before a judge.

Spaniard Jose Emilio Suarez, accused of providing explosives for the attacks, was charged with 190 counts of murder, 1,430 counts of attempted murder, robbery and collaborating or belonging to a terrorist organisation. Court officials said the latter charge would be specified further as the probe continued.

The figure of 190 cited by the judge is the number of bodies officially identified so far.

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