Madrid bombing trial to start on February 15

Madrid, Jan 24: The trial of 29 suspects for the 2004 Islamist train bombings in Madrid which killed 191 people will start on February 15, Spain's high court said today.

The trial for Spain's deadliest terror attack will take place in a court purpose-built for large, high-security trials on the outskirts of a large stretch of Madrid parkland and should take about four months, court officials said.

There could be a verdict by the autumn in what will be one of Europe's biggest terror trials, they said.

Islamist militants claimed the attacks in the name of al Qaeda as revenge for Spain sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq. Days later, the government lost a general election and the new Socialist administration pulled its troops out of Iraq.

Most of the accused, who were formally charged last April, are Spaniards and Moroccans.

But three convicted members of Basque separatist guerrilla group ETA will also be called as witnesses at the request of one of the lawyers of those accused, the High Court said.

The ETA members were caught with explosives 11 days before the train attacks. Some Spanish media outlets with links to the conservative opposition have given play to accusations ETA was involved in the attacks, although investigators have discounted it.

Reuters