National
Five suspects released from remand as Spanish National Court deliberates verdict in bomb plot trial
By m.p.
Feb 4, 2008 - 9:02 PM

Ten of the 30 suspects awaiting sentencing for a plot to blow up the Spanish National Court were released from remand without bail on Monday, ahead of the court’s decision in the case. The three-month trial remained ready for sentencing on 14th January, and they face sentences ranging from eight to 43 years. Only five of the ten were actually released, however, as the others are already serving time for other cases.

They have been held on remand since their arrest in 2004, and the remand period was taken into account in the decision by the court.

The suspected Islamic terrorists were arrested as part of Operation Nova in 2004, when police uncovered a plan by the cell to ram the National Court building with a lorry loaded with explosives.

The man believed to be the ring leader of the cell, Abderrahman Tahiri, is charged with organising Islamic cells in Spanish prisons to carry out attacks against the National Court and other targets.