The apartment building where Zougam was born and grew up in Tangiers

Additional reporting by Mariam Al-Tigy, IOL Morocco Correspondent 

MADRID, RABAT, March 16 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Reports in Spain Tuesday, March 16, said police believe six Moroccans were behind last week's horrific Madrid train bombings.

Across the Mediterranean, the Moroccan political street held it breath for the results of the ongoing investigation, with one political leader – close to Islamic-leaning parties – directed the finger at another line of perpetrators.

"The police have identified six Moroccan citizens as the presumed perpetrators of the March 11 attacks," center-left El Pais daily said on its web site.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the paper said investigators believed a video tape in which a presumed member of Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks was authentic. The carnage, Spain worst ever extremist atrocity, killed 201 people and injured more than 1,500.

El Pais named one of the presumed bombers as Jamal Zougam, who was arrested at the weekend with two other Moroccans and two Indians. He had been identified by two train passengers who were seen before the blasts, it said.

The man, named as Zougam, is reported to have been recognized by people who survived Thursday's blasts, according to the BBC online news.

It did not identify the five other presumed attackers, who are still at large.

El Pais quoted unnamed anti-terrorist officials as saying Jordanian Abu Mussab Al-Zarqawi could be the mastermind of the attacks. Zarqawi, accused by the U.S. of bomb attacks in Iraq, is suspected of links with Al-Qaeda.

Investigators were Tuesday seeking to determine where the bombers obtained the Spanish-made explosives and detonators used in the attacks. They thought one of the perpetrators had studied at a reputed engineering school in Nancy, France, El Pais said.

On Monday, however, a man jailed since late 2001 on suspicion of heading an Al-Qaeda cell in Spain condemned the Madrid bombings as an "atrocious crime".

Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, alias Abu Dahdah, said in a letter the attacks were "a savage and indiscriminate act untypical of a good Muslim".

Morocco Awaits

The arrest of the Moroccans, as expected, caused shockwaves among the political circles and parties, with many expecting a negative impact on the already-fragile Spanish-Moroccan relations.

A Moroccan political leader – asking not to be named – told IslamOnline.net Tuesday that "all the talk about Moroccans being arrested is suspicious and enshrines the vicious train blasts with a vague ambiguity".

"I smell a clear Zionist plot in what is going on. The objective question now should be: who has a catch here? International Zionism is the answer. Implicating Arabs and Muslims in such horrific acts serves to add credibility to the Zionist project," the leader added, insisting not to be named for fear of being pursued under anti-terrorism laws.

He added that his theory was shared by many other politicians but they could not go public with it for lack of material evidence.

"The perpetrators of such crimes tend to manipulate young enthusiastic people or those who are against some European stands. Such youth usually lack insight and enough experience to avoid being trapped".

Stressing his point, the Moroccan party leader said the arrests made in Spain do not necessarily mean direct involvement. He cited past experiences of similar cases.

"In January 2003, 10 Moroccans and 6 Algerians were arrested in Spain where they were accused of terrorism and being Al-Qaeda members. The Spanish press then published complete reports and scenarios. (Outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria) Aznar himself – on January 26, 2003 – stated publicly the arrest of a dangerous Al-Qaeda cell, referring to the 16.

"Investigations later freed the 16 people, all charges against them were dropped after military labs proved the materials seized as evidence to be nothing but cleaning powders," he said.

On the other hand, Moroccan security forces are expected to make gains of the whole situation and can start now demanding again the delivery of Moroccans they deem "wanted" in European states, notably Spain.

A Moroccan security delegation is already in Madrid helping the Spanish with the ongoing investigations.

Morocco has been demanding Spain hands over Moroccans allegedly accused of involvement in the bombing of Casablanca May, 16, 2003.

Notably, Morocco wants the hand over of Abdul Aziz Bin Yaeesh whom Morocco accuses of planning terrorist acts on its soil and Hisham El-Timsmani, accused of forming a criminal gang.

The Spanish authorities have then refused the hand over due to lack of evidence against those wanted. But now, with the new circumstances, Moroccan security officials expect better results.