Terroristen achter bomaanslagen Madrid opgepakt (en)

Several suspected Islamist militants were arrested on Tuesday (8 June) in a cross-border operation conducted by Belgian, French, Italian and Spanish police. One of the men arrested is said to be one of the masterminds of the Madrid bombings.

At least two persons were arrested in Italy, one of them, Rabei Osman El Sayed Ahmed, known as Mohamed the Egyptian, is said to be one of the masterminds behind these attacks which left 191 dead.

Italian Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said that Mr Ahmed was "probably among the principal authors" of the Madrid bombings and that he was preparing other attacks.

Italy said it received information sent by Spanish investigators.

Belgium arrested 15 men suspected of plotting attacks after investigators were tipped off by Italian authorities.

Spain is expected to seek the extradition of Mr Ahmed, who has been linked to Serhane ben Abdelmajid Farkhet, identified by Spanish judge Juan del Olmo as the ringleader of the Madrid bombings, the BBC reports.