Police reverse the car carrying one of the two Russian Islamist terror suspects (out of view) to the National Court, as confirmed by court officials in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012. Spanish police arrested three suspected members of al-Qaida who they believe were planning to carry out attacks in Spain and possibly other European countries, Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz said Thursday. He said the three men were detained Wednesday. Two of the detainees were from countries of the former Soviet Union and were arrested in the central town of Ciudad Real. The third, a Turk, was detained in the southern town of La Linea. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
August 05, 2012 - 10:17 AM
MADRID - A Spanish judge on Sunday charged two Russian men suspected of plotting a terror attack in Spain or elsewhere in Europe with belonging to a terror organization and of the possession of explosives.
Judge Pablo Ruz of the National Court ordered both men be jailed until a date is decided for court proceedings, a court statement said.
Ruz said in the statement that there was evidence which linked the Russians with others known to be involved with terrorist organizations.
The two, who are both of Chechen origin, were driven to the court in dark cars early Sunday, escorted by masked police officers.
A Turkish national with whom they have been linked was charged Friday with the possession of explosives and a device likely to be used in a terror attack.
The interior minister has described the Russians as suspected al-Qaida members and said the Turk is suspected of being a facilitator for the terror group. The Turk was arrested Thursday in the southern city of La Linea while the Russians were picked up Wednesday as they allegedly travelled by bus toward the French border.
The Turk had worked in construction for years in Gibraltar and the explosive material was seized in his house in the southwestern Spanish city of La Linea, just across the border from the British colony and naval base.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012