Leader of Spanish terrorist group sent funds to the Netherlands

The leader of the eight suspected terrorists who were arrested in Spain on Monday night had contact with individuals in a number of countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium. According to the Spanish news agency Europapress, the group's leader, the 30-year-old Algerian Mohammed Achrat, sent funds to various individuals. It is not known why the money was sent.

Mr Achrat, who was arrested in Switzerland several days ago at the request of the Spanish authorities, is believed to be a member of the extremist Algerian group GIA.

Dutch link in Madrid bomb plot?

by RN´s Defence and Security editor Hans de Vreij, 21 October 2004

The Spanish authorities claim to have foiled a high-profile terrorist attack with the arrests of a group of mainly Algerian radical Muslims. The group is suspected of plotting to blow up the country's highest criminal court in Madrid with a truck bomb. The alleged mastermind of the attack has recently been arrested in Switzerland.

Earlier this week, Spanish police arrested eight more suspects in a nationwide swoop, and started new interrogations of suspects already in custody. The man believed to be the head of the bomb plot has been named as Mohamed Achrat, a 30-year-old Algerian national, who was recently arrested in Switzerland and whose extradition to Spain is expected soon.

Thought to be linked to the radical Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA), Achrat is suspected of masterminding a suicide mission to blow up the Spanish High Court with a truckload of explosives.

However, the Spanish authorities say that many incriminating documents were found during the various arrests, but no explosives. They believe the terrorist cell hadn't yet got round to buying them on the black market.

Possible link
Spain has requested the assistance of the Netherlands authorities in its investigation into the foiled attack. A spokesman for the Dutch intelligence service AIVD told Radio Netherlands that the arrests in Spain have prompted the organisation to look into a possible Dutch connection. One of the suspects was arrested in the Netherlands last year on the basis of AIVD information linking him to a terrorist network and implicating him in the forging of passports. The man was subsequently extradited to Spain.

Another suspect arrested in Spain is said to hold a Dutch passport, and a third detainee has sent undisclosed sums of money to the Netherlands, according to the AIVD. Media reports suggest the latter suspect is the alleged ringleader Mohamed Achrat, who is thought to have also transferred money to bank accounts in other countries, including Belgium and Australia. It is unclear who the recipients are and for what purpose the money was sent.

Madrid attacks
Given the official announcements from Spain, the conclusion seems justified that Madrid has escaped a second major terrorist strike this year. In March, nearly 200 people died in a series of bomb attacks on several commuter trains carried out by a Moroccan al-Qaeda-affiliated group calling itself 'Groupe Islamique Combattant Marocain' (GICM).

The group arrested this week is thought to be linked to the Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA), which has so far been mainly active inside that country. According to Spanish media reports, at least four of the detainees are of Algerian descent. Two others are Muslims from Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in North Africa, and Morocco, respectively. Most of the suspects have served prison sentences in Spain for offences unrelated to terrorism.

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