Spain has begun a trial for 24 suspected al-Qaida members, including three accused of helping plan the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
The defendants appeared in a Madrid court Friday, behind bulletproof glass. More than 100 armed police are providing security at a remodeled courtroom, specially-built for trials with multiple defendants.
Among the accused is the suspected leader of the Spanish al-Qaida cell - Syrian-born Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas. He allegedly organized a meeting of terror suspects in Spain during which details of the September 11 attacks were finalized.
Prosecutors are asking that the leader of the group be sentenced to more than 60,000 years in prison if convicted.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
