Posted on 09/14/2004 10:52:23 AM PDT by knighthawk
BRUSSELS: A terror trial opened on Monday in Brussels amid tight security for 10 men, some of whom are accused of plotting a bomb attack and others suspected of having links with al-Qaeda operatives across Europe.
Key suspect Tarek Maaroufi has already been convicted in two other cases and was among 18 militants sentenced earlier this year for his part in a European terror ring that recruited fighters for al-Qaeda and Taliban.
"His previous convictions show that he is at the centre of things and has important contacts in Europe," said spokeswoman for federal prosecutors Lieve Pellens. Maaroufi had also received a three-year suspended sentence in a 1995 case centring on the Armed Islamic Group, the violent Algerian militant organisation.All 10, most of them are of Moroccan descent, have been charged with conspiracy and face up to five years in prison.
The area around the Brussels Palace of Justice was sealed off by police who searched the neighbourhood for explosives with dogs before the suspects were brought in with special vans. Even though Belgium has approved tougher anti-terrorist legislation early this year, the suspects will still be tried under the old legislation because their alleged crimes predate it.
Maaroufi, 38, and two others are accused of involvement in a network of terrorists, keeping contacts with al-Qaeda operatives in Italy and Spain among other nations. Those contacts include Abu Dahdah, the suspected leader of the al-Qaeda cell in Spain and Essid Sami Ben Khemais, who was suspected of heading Osama bin Laden’s European logistics operation and was convicted in Italy two years ago.
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