Five Madrid bomb suspects died in suicide blast

At least five prime suspects in the Madrid bombings were among the seven alleged terrorists who blew themselves up as police moved to arrest them earlier this month, officials said today.

Up to now, only four of the seven killed in the April 3 suicide blast had been identified. But forensic tests show two other suspects – Mohammed Oulad Akcha and his brother Rachid Oulad Akcha – were also killed.

With the Akcha brothers dead, only one of six people who had not been arrested but were held directly responsible for the attacks is still unaccounted for.

His name is Said Berraj and police believe Berraj may be the seventh person killed in the blast

Eighteen people have been charged so far in the case- six with mass murder and the rest with belonging to or collaborating with a terrorist organisation. Fourteen are Moroccan. The others are two Indians, one Syrian and one Spaniard.