Six Moroccans linked to Madrid blasts

MADRID - Spanish police believe they have identified six Moroccan Islamic militants who carried out train blasts which killed 200 people in Madrid and helped usher the opposition Socialists into power, media have reported.

Spanish newspapers and radio reported that police believe one of the Moroccans, who is already under arrest, may have had links to last May's bombings in Casablanca which killed 45 people, including 12 suicide bombers.

Citing security sources, the papers said the suspect, Jamal Zougam, had been identified by two survivors of the rush-hour train blast who said they saw him before the explosions.

An Interior Ministry spokesman was not immediately available for comment. Moroccan officials have previously challenged theories of any direct link between the Casablanca bombing and Spain's worst ever guerrilla attack.

Thursday's bombing was initially blamed on armed Basque separatists ETA.

- REUTERS