Spain opens 9/11 Al-Qaida trial

AL-QAIDA’S suspected leader in Spain went on trial yesterday on charges of helping to plot the September 11 attack by aiding one of the suicide pilots.

Two alleged accomplices face identical charges, and 21 other suspected al-Qaida cell members are accused of terrorism, illegal weapons possession and other offences.

Spain is only the second country, after Germany, to try suspects in connection with the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in 2001.