Al-Qaida suspect breaks down during Madrid trial

An alleged al-Qaida militant cried today after taking the stand in a Madrid courtroom on charges that he belonged to a cell accused of helping to plot the September 11 attacks in the US.

Abdulla Khayata Katan, a 29-year-old Spaniard of Syrian origin, denied any wrongdoing and said he was abused and humiliated at a Jordanian jail before being turned over to Spanish authorities in February of last year.

Katan is accused belonging to a terrorist organisation, but not direct involvement in September 11 planning.

“I love Spain,” he said. “I have never had any problems with anyone in Spain.”

Katan said he was insulted and physically abused while held in solitary confinement for 15 days in Jordan before being turned over to Spain.

“They stepped on me. They humiliated me,” he told the court.

He said that when he arrived in Madrid in handcuffs, he could not believe what was happening to him.

“I thought it was a dream,” he said.

Prosecutors say that while living in Spain, Katan was recruited in 1995 to travel to Bosnia and teach Islamic fighters at a terrorism training camp. He returned to Spain in 1996, formed an off-shoot of a Spanish al Qaida cell and aided mujahedeen fighting in Bosnia and Afghanistan, according to prosecutor Pedro Rubira.

Katan is one of 24 suspected al Qaida members on trial in Madrid since April 22.

Three of the 24 are accused specifically of helping plot the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US. The other 21 face charges of terrorism, illegal possession of weapons or explosives and other offences.