Ten terror suspects - some accused of having ties with al-Qaeda operatives across Europe and others charged with plotting a bomb attack - go on trial on Monday. It's the second terror trial in the past year in Belgium, and al-Qaeda is again at the heart of the allegations. The key suspect, Tarek Maaroufi, was among the 18 militants convicted in last year's trial for involvement in a European terror ring that recruited fighters for al-Qaeda and Afghanistan's former Taliban rulers. All 10 suspects involved in the upcoming trial, most of whom are of Moroccan origin, have been charged with conspiracy, fraud and illegal possession of arms and face up to five years in prison.
Belgium approved tougher anti-terrorist legislation early this year, but the suspects in this case will be tried under the old legislation because their alleged crimes predate the new measure. The Tunisian-born Maaroufi, 38, and two of the other suspects are accused of being part of a network of terrorists who maintained contacts with al-Qaeda operatives in Italy, Spain and other European nations, said an official at the prosecution's office who asked not to be identified. Among those they allegedly had contact with were Abu Dahdah, the suspected leader of an al-Qaeda cell in Spain, and Essid Sami Ben Khemais, who was suspected of heading Osama bin Laden's European logistics operation and was convicted in Italy two years ago. The charges against them are mostly based on a detailed analysis of records of the suspects' telephone conversations over several years, the official said. |