Free Republic

By John Crewdson, Tribune senior correspondent. Reporting and research assistance was provided by Drew Crosby in Madrid MADRID -- The most sweeping criminal indictment to arise thus far from the Sept. 11 attacks reflects a quiet but dramatic change in understanding by investigators here and across Europe of the terrorist organization known as Al Qaeda, and the international Islamic radical-terrorist network of which, they now agree, it is merely a part. As laid out in the indictment, the defendants' alleged activities--from arranging travel and providing introductions to procuring false documents and, especially, moving money--provide the first detailed look at one...

SPANISH police yesterday arrested another suspected al-Qaida member who is believed to be a key figure in the financing of the terrorist organisation's operations in various countries. Interior Minister Mariano Rajoy said Syrian-born Spaniard Ghasoub al- Abrash al-Ghalyoun was seized yesterday morning. He gave no more details. Only a day earlier, police in Madrid arrested another Syrian- born Spaniard, who was described as a key figure in financing terrorist operations of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network in various countries including the United States. Rajoy said the man held yesterday, together with another person arrested some time ago in Spain, "made...

Spanish prosecutors are seeking a total of 222,000 years in prison and nearly $1.17 billion in fines for three suspects accused of aiding the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The punishments are among a total of 230,000 years of prison terms sought for 24 suspects held in jail on charges of belonging to an al Qaeda unit in Spain, according to court documents filed Monday. The trial was due to start this month but has been delayed indefinitely because of a backlog of cases at the High Court. The prison terms correspond to all the charges, including...

MADRID, Spain (AP) - Spanish police on Friday arrested a Syrian who they believe helped recruit radical Islamists to be sent abroad and had ties with suspects charged in last year's train bombings. Police, who gave the suspect's name as Mohannad Almallah Dabas, was arrested at his home in Madrid. The Interior Ministry said he and his brother used an apartment in Madrid to house recruits or people passing through. They were assisted by Basel Ghalyoun, a Syrian already jailed for his suspected role in the March 11, 2004 bombings that killed 191 people and wounded more than 1,500, the...

<p>A masked police officer escorts Ghasoub al-Abrash Ghalyoun after his arrest in Madrid.</p> <p>PARIS — Al-Qaeda and other Islamic extremist groups are continuing to recruit members in Europe and are active in almost every European country despite a 10-month dragnet for terrorism suspects, Europe's new anti-terrorism chief says.</p>