Madrid suspect arrives in Spain

Rabie Osman Ahmed can only be held in Spain for six months

Italy has handed over to Spain a man suspected of playing a key role in the 11 March Madrid train bombings.

Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed was flown to Madrid on Tuesday evening accompanied by Spanish police officers.

Italy's Supreme Court last week agreed to extradite Mr Ahmed - known as "Mohammed the Egyptian" - who had been in Italian custody since June.

He is expected to face questioning by Spain's top criminal court over the attacks which killed 191 people.

Italian authorities granted the Spanish extradition request after intercepting telephone calls in which Mr Ahmed allegedly boasted about his central role in the Madrid bombings, which he is alleged to have called "my project".

Spain regards him as an explosives expert who had links with the alleged ideological mastermind of the attacks, a Tunisian named Serhane Ben Abdelmajid Fakhet.

Mr Ahmed "managed to take control of a small group of Arab followers, all of them with extremist Islamic ideology, supporters of jihad and Osama Bin Laden," said Spanish examining magistrate Juan Del Olmo.

Mr Ahmed also faces Italian accusations of fomenting terror attacks and can be detained in Spain for a maximum of six months. However, Spain can request an extension of his custody.