ROME: An Egyptian man accused of being one of the masterminds of the Madrid 2004 train bombings is an influential member of Al-Qaeda , two Italian judges said Thursday. The judges made their assessment in a written statement outlining their reasons for having sentenced Rabei Ousmane Sayed Ahmed, known as Mohamed the Egyptian, to 10 years in prison. The inquiry clearly demonstrates the role of Rabei: influential member inside Al-Qaeda and at the head of the Islamist cell accused of the Madrid killings, Luigi Domenica and Enrico Scarlini wrote. Italian judges have 90 days to present the reasons for a sentencing. Sayed Ahmed was sentenced to 10 years in jail by a Milan court in November for membership of a terrorist organization. Italy then sent him to Spain to appear before a Spanish court with 28 co-defendants for the Madrid blasts that killed 191 people.
That case is due to begin this month. A second Egyptian, Yahya Mawad Mohamed Rajeh, accused of being his accomplice, was sentenced to five years in jail by the Milan court. The two men had been arrested in June 2004 in the north Italian city.
