Spain lowers death toll from bombings to 190

SPANISH authorities yesterday lowered the death toll in the Madrid bombings from 202 to 190 citing errors in identifying bodies.

Thirteen bags of body parts had originally been thought to contain remains of corpses not yet identified. But DNA tests have shown those remains belonged to people already included in the toll or to survivors who lost limbs, said Interior Ministry spokesman Richard Ibanez.

Also yesterday, news reports said Spanish intelligence officials have informed colleagues in Britain, France, Germany and Italy of the identities of suspects in the Madrid bombings who may have fled to other European countries. The intelligence officials gave the list to their counterparts at a meeting held in Madrid on Monday to discuss the March 11 bombings.

Suspicion over the atrocities has focused on an alleged Morocco-based terrorist cell believed to have links to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network.

Early yesterday, a judge filed charges against four more suspects, bringing to nine the number charged and jailed pending further investigation. Six of those are Moroccan.

Judge Juan del Olmo charged three Moroccans and a Spaniard with terrorism and mass killings for their alleged participation in the bombings.

A fifth suspect, a Moroccan, was released without charge.

The nine who have been charged denied involvement in the attacks. They are being held in solitary confinement without access to family or lawyers.

They can remain jailed for two years while more evidence is gathered.