Magistrates in France have ordered two Algerian men to stand trial for their alleged roles in a bomb attack on a railway station in Paris in 1995 in which eight people were killed, reported BBC.online.
The attack was one of a series of bombings across France believed to have been carried out by the Armed Islamic Group or GIA, which is fighting the government in Algeria.
One of the men, Rachid Ramda, is currently in prison in the UK, where he is facing extradition to France, said the news service.
The other man, Boulam Bensaid, is serving a jail term in France.
The 30-year-old Bensaid was the prime suspect to be placed under formal investigation in connection with the July 25 explosion that also injured 120.
He was convicted for murder, destruction by explosives leading to death or mutilation, and criminal conspiracy with a terrorist organization.
Bensaid pleaded not guilty, denying any involvement in the bombing.
Bensaid, known as “Mehdi,” went to France in April 1995 on a student visa. He also is wanted by Algerian authorities in connection with a number of car bombings.
The investigation into the bombing has targeted Algerian Islamic militants, who have threatened France for supporting Algeria's military-backed government.
A number of suspects have been killed in France or Algeria. Khaled Kelkal, a 24-year-old Algerian, was killed in a September 1995 shootout with French police after his fingerprints were found on a bomb that failed to explode – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
