Slough man in court over Madrid bombing

A father of eight from Slough helped to plan the Madrid bombings which killed 191 people, it was claimed today.

Moutaz Almallah Dabas, 39, was kept under surveillance for months because of his suspected involvement in the attack which blew apart four packed commuter trains during the morning rush hour in the Spanish capital on 11 March last year.

Scotland Yard anti-terrorist officers arrested Dabas, who has Syrian and Spanish nationality, at his home in Slough, Berkshire, on Saturday using an extradition warrant issued by Spanish authorities - just 24 hours after his brother Mohannad Almallah Dabas, a Syrian national, was arrested in Madrid.

He was appearing before Bow Street magistrates today for an extradition hearing. The Spanish Interior Ministry accused the brothers of being involved in the recruitment of young Islamic radicals in Spain using an an apartment in Madrid to house them.

They are also said to be linked to Rabei Osman Ahmed, an Egyptian who was extradited from Italy to Spain in December on allegations that he was a key figure in the Madrid bombings.

Spain also claims that Mohannad Almallah Dabas was linked to Imad Yarkas, a Syrian-born Spaniard who is in custody charged with providing financial and logistical support for the September 11 attacks.

Friends of Dabassaid they were rallying round his wife to help care for their children following his arrest at his terraced

house.

They said he lived a "normal life", sending his children to a local school and immersing himself in the community.

Ihsan Ulxaq, 33, a fellow worshipper at the Jamia Islamic centre in Slough, said: "He is a good man and a good friend.

"He has eight children; The youngest is six months. He is supported by the council. I have met his brother a few times. He is a nice man with a big family." Another friend, Istikhar Choudry, said: "He has been in Slough for years. He's a family man. he set up his own firm doing odd jobs."

More than 1,500 injured were injured in the bombings for which 70 people, mainly Moroccan citizens, have been arrested so far.

A Moroccan cell with links to al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack. The explosions came three days before a general election in which the Socialists ousted the right-wing Popular party of the then Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. Spain's government initially blamed Basque separatists Eta for the attacks, an error in which is widely believed to have contributed to the Popular Party's unexpected defeat.