14/11/2008
The trial of accused terror cell ringleader Abdelkader Belliraj and 34 alleged accomplices resumed Friday (November 14th) in Salé, local and international press reported. The Belgian-Moroccan and the other defendants are charged with plotting assassinations of senior government officials and strikes against Jewish targets. Also Friday, Al Bayane reported that two Moroccan terror-suspects were arrested by Spanish security services in Mellila earlier this week, as part of the investigation into the Belliraj case. Ali Aârass and Mohamed El Bay were the subjects of international arrest warrants issued by Moroccan courts for alleged involvement in terrorist networks and weapon trafficking. Aârass is also allegedly implicated in the deadly 2003 Casablanca bombings. The two appeared in a Spanish court on Wednesday and are expected to be extradited to Morocco.