Four men believed linked to al-Qaeda hve gone on trial in The Netherlands today accused of plotting attacks on US targets across Europe.
Two Algerians, a Frenchman and a Dutchman are accused of running a terrorist support network out of a Rotterdam apartment to assist in strikes against the US embassy in Paris and a military base in Belgium.
Today, prosecutors are presenting their case for the first time since three of the four men were arrested on September 13th, 2001 - two days after the terrorist attacks in the United States.
The alleged Dutch cell was uncovered as police carried out a Europe-wide sweep following the September 11th attacks in New York and Washington.
Three times, judges have extended the pretrial custody of Frenchman Mr Jerome Courtailler, said to be the group's leader, and Algerian Mr Abdelghani Rabia. Another Algerian, Mr Amine Mezbar, was extradited to The Netherlands in July.
The fourth defendant, a Dutchman of Ethiopian origin named Mr Saaid Ibrahim, was released early this year because of insufficient evidence, but still faces charges.
Armed police with bullet-proof vests guarded the Rotterdamdistrict court as the accused, accompanied by defence lawyers,took their seats at the start of a trial set to includetestimony by the head of the Dutch intelligence service.
AP