Spain extradites Madrid bomb suspect from Britain

LONDON, Mar 8 (Reuters) Britain has extradited to Spain a Syrian-born Spanish citizen accused of helping some of the militants involved in the 2004 Madrid train bombings, London police said today.

Moutaz Almallah Dabas, arrested in Britain in March 2005, was handed over to Spanish police by their London counterparts and was due to return to Spain on a private flight.

''He appeared at Bow Street magistrates court on March 21, 2005 on a European arrest warrant issued by the Spanish authorities, for alleged terrorist offences, in particular involvement in the Madrid bombings,'' London police said.

Spain accuses Dabas of providing support and accommodation to Islamist militants, including several alleged to be involved in the Madrid bombings which killed 191 people and wounded about 1,800.

British judge Anthony Evans said in 2005 that Dabas was suspected of being a close associate of Sarhene Ben Abdelmajid Fakhet, one of seven men who blew themselves up in Madrid after being surrounded by police investigating the bombings.

Last year, Spain's El Pais newspaper cited a leaked police report which suggested Dabas and his brother Mouhannad had big roles in the bombings and may even have masterminded them.

Without them, the report said, ''the March 11 attacks possibly would not have occurred''.

REUTERS SP KN2205