Morocco Prosecutes ‘The Brain’ behind Madrid’s 11-M Terrorist Attack

Moroccan Youssef Belhadj, recognized as the intellectual author of the mass murder terrorist attack 11-M against Madrid, Spain will be tried in Moroccan court after his expulsion from Spain, where he was imprisoned for 12 years.

Belhadj was expelled from Spain on January 28, 2017 due to his lack of residential status on Spanish territory. He was later detained upon his arrival at the Sale airport in Morocco, according to Spanish media, 2o Minutos.

He appeared before the Moroccan General prosecution on February 8, and was officially detained until further investigation could be done on his involvement in a terrorist attack on the Moroccan territory that took place before the attack on Madrid.

Belhadj is currently being held in a preventive jail in Sale, as the National Brigade of Judicial Police accused him of “constitution of criminal band with the aim of committing terrorist acts and belonging to a prohibited group,” Moroccan Police sources told 20 Minutos.

The 11-M terrorist attack on March 11, 2004 was the largest of its kind in Madrid’s History. The simultaneous explosion of ten bombs in four commuter trains caused 192 deaths and 1,500 injuries.

Spanish media recognizes Belhadj as the spokesman for Al Qaeda in Europe, but the Moroccan Prosecution denies their allegations.