Mumbai’s Roshan Jamal gets 8 years for terror in Spain

In Mumbai,Khan’s family has been anxiously awaiting word from Spain. Said his brother Mehboob: “I am waiting to hear from my brother’s lawyer.”

Khan is one of 14 Muslim men picked up by Spanish authorities from a mosque in Barcelona on January 19 last year in connection with an alleged plot to carry out attacks in that city. Four of them,including another Indian,were released later,while another suspect was detained in the Netherlands subsequently. Khan,who was being held along with nine Pakistanis,was in Spain to explore business opportunities,his family said.

The Spanish court on Monday convicted all 11 men in connection with a plot to carry out suicide bombings and delivered prison sentences ranging from eight to 14 years. According to Spanish media reports,the court ruled that the prisoners planned to carry out a violent attack using explosives against the Barcelona metro.

Shahid Iqbal,a Pakistani with family ties in Pune,as reported earlier by The Indian Express,received 14 years and six months along with Qadeer Malik,for belonging to a terror group and for possession of weapons. Maroof Ahmed Mirza,who was identified by the court as the leader of the group,was given a term of 10 and a half years for belonging to a terrorist group,while the others received terms of eight-and-a-half years each.

The court said the group was inspired by Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud and cited an online video interview with the spokesperson of the Tehrik-e-Taliban claiming the outfit had planned the Barcelona attacks in retaliation to Spanish troops being deployed in Afghanistan.

Khan’s family — his wife,four sons and two daughters live in Jogeshwari — had urged the Prime Minister,the External Affairs Ministry and the Spanish Consulate-General to intervene.