Man held in Madrid bombings probe

The Madrid train bombings shocked the world

Spanish police have made a new arrest in connection with the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people.

Moroccan-born Spaniard Abderrameb Hammadi Afandi, 32, was picked up in the Madrid suburb of Leganes on Monday morning, the interior ministry said.

In April, seven other suspects blew themselves up when police tried to arrest them in a flat in Leganes.

Over 20 people have been accused of playing a role in the 11 March attacks. Sixteen of them are of Moroccan origin.

At least 20 others have been arrested and subsequently released.

Soon after the arrest, Mr Afandi appeared before judge Juan del Olmo, who is leading the investigation into the bombings, a court official said.

A decision on whether to keep Mr Afandi in custody was expected shortly.

Spain's authorities have so far given no details concerning the latest arrest or the role Mr Afandi is believed to have played in the attacks.

Attacks 'mastermind'

The latest arrest comes as details are emerging about another suspect who investigators say could be the architect of the bombings.

Ahmed is fighting extradition requests from Spain

Rabei Osman Ahmed, 32, also known as "Mohamed the Egyptian", was arrested in Milan last month on an international warrant issued by Spain.

For several weeks before his arrest, Italian investigators monitored his conversations after his mobile number was found in the address book of one of the suspects in Spain.

The arrest was made after Mr Ahmed spoke of an imminent attack in an undisclosed location.

In a transcript published recently by Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper, Mr Ahmed boasted to his alleged accomplice that "the Madrid attack is my project".

"The project has cost me a lot of study, it took me two-and-a-half years," the transcript said.

Mr Ahmed also said in one of the transcripts that "some [of the attackers] have died like martyrs, eight others have been arrested. They are my best friends.

Even after his arrest on 7 June Mr Ahmed was still talking, predicting that he would face a severe punishment for his role in the bombings.

"The minimum is 30 years... I am too trapped," the transcript said.

Mr Ahmed - also alleged to have tried to recruit suicide bombers - is currently fighting extradition requests from Spain.