Spain: Accused al-Qaida cell leader takes stand

The man accused of leading a Spanish al-Qaida cell took the stand for a second day today at his trial on charges of helping organise the September 11 terror attacks in the US.

Yesterday, accused al-Qaida cell leader Imad Yarkas denied having anything to do with the 2001 attack, which he called an act of “terrible savagery”.

Yarkas, the main suspect in Spain’s case against al-Qaida, described himself as a hardworking father of six who struggled to make ends meet.

He took the stand at the trial of 24 terror suspects – Europe’s biggest court case against radical groups with alleged ties to Osama bin Laden’s terror network.

If convicted, he faces a symbolic sentence of almost 75,000 years in prison – 25 years for each of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.

Two alleged accomplices also face charges they helped plot the September 11 attacks, and 21 others are charged with belonging to a terrorist group, illegal weapons possession and other offences.

Yarkas, arrested in November 2001, denied lading a cell of radical Muslims with ties to al-Qaida, or knowing two of the alleged September 11 ringleaders.