Terror suspects were 'targeting Spanish court'

Seven North Africans arrested by Spanish police were plotting a major bombing attack against the National Court, a hub of Spain’s investigations of Islamic terrorism, newspapers reported today.

El Pais quoted police sources as saying the plot was only in the preliminary stages because there was no evidence the suspects had actually obtained explosives.

Another newspaper, El Mundo, said the plan involved detonating a truck loaded with 500 kilos of explosives outside the courthouse, located on a busy avenue in Madrid.

The Interior Ministry and officials at the court declined to comment on the reports.

El Pais said the arrests were ordered as part of a probe undertaken by the court’s Judge Baltasar Garzon, Spain’s leading anti-terrorism magistrate.

Since September of last year he has indicted 41 people on terrorism charges, including Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida suspects accused of staging the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

Another judge at the court, Juan del Olmo, is leading a probe into the March 11 train bombings in Madrid, which killed 191 people and have been blamed on Muslim militants with links to al-Qaida.

The latest arrests were made nationwide yesterday.

Police described the detainees as suspected members of an active Islamic militant group, the Interior Ministry said.

It added the suspects allegedly were in contact with people elsewhere in Europe, the United States and Australia.

Those arrested included at least four Algerians and one Moroccan in Madrid, El Ejido, Gandia, Malaga and Almeria. They were identified as Smail Latrech, Ali Omar “Jelloul,” Djamel Merabet, Mourat Yala “Abu Anas,” Ahmed Mohamed and Magid Mchmacha. One remained unidentified.

Police said the operation was still open and didn’t rule out more arrests or home searches.