Spain Says Suspect Met With Operative. Spanish investigators said they now believe that the leader of a cell that carried out the March 11 rush-hour bombings of four commuter trains in Madrid sought the assistance of al Qaeda in the months preceding the deadliest terrorist attack in Spain’s history, but said they have no evidence that al Qaeda directly participated in the operation. The investigators said the cell leader, Sarhane Ben Abdelmajid Fakhet, a Tunisian immigrant, traveled to Turkey in late 2002 or early 2003 and met with Amer Azizi, whom they described as a senior al Qaeda operative in Europe. At the meeting, according to the investigators, Fakhet outlined plans for an attack in Spain but told Azizi he needed manpower and other support to carry it out. Spanish officials declined to say how they learned of the meeting or what was discussed. Full Story
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