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November 16, 2005
Belgium: Islamic Terror Trial Started Today
According to Expatica News, the largest trial seen so far on terrorism began in earnest today. 13 suspects are accused of having links to the Moroccan based terror organisation, the Groupe Islamique Combattant Marocain, or GICM.
Arrested in Maaseik and Brussels in July 2005, one of the accused is said to have assisted those who carried out bombings in Casablanca, Morocco, in 2003 which killed 45 people, while the group as a whole is accused of providing logistical support for the train bombings in Madrid on March 11, 2004, which killed 191 people (picture above).
The trials are being held in the majestic surroundings of the Palace of Justice in Brussels. The main suspect, pastry chef Khalid Bouloudou, aged 30, is said to be the Belgian coordinator of GICM. He was arrested in the Netherlands and extradited to Belgium. He is thought to be involved with the Casablanca bombing. His wife is notorious as the woman who lives in Masseik but refuses to either remove her burqa, or pay any fines.
Originally 17 people were given legal assessment in August, but 13 were indicted to stand trial. 11 of these appeared for preliminary hearings on 3 November.
The trial is being conducted in French after a lawyer's request to speak in Dutch was refused by the court on November 3. Interpreters are being provided to the defendants, all of whom are of Moroccan origin.
The trial will be the first to involve new anti-terror laws introduced in 2003, and is expected to last until 13 December, though it may be extended. The trial will involve four hearings each week, with an extra fifth day available, for legal clarification if required.
One of the suspects, Yussef Belhadj, has already been extradited to Spain for his alleged role in the Madrid bombings, and he will be tried in absentia.
The Casablanca bombings took place on 16 May 2003 (picture). Five synchronised bombs hit the Belgian consulate, a Spanish restaurant and social club, a hotel and a Jewish community centre. The bombs were carried out by suicide bombers, 10 of whom were blown to bits in the explosions.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 16, 2005 4:11 PM
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