An al-Jazeera correspondent has been jailed in Spain for fear he'd flee terrorism charges, La Vanguardia reported Friday.
Syrian-born journalist Taysir Alony was arrested in September 2003 on charges of belonging to al-Qaida. He was released on bail for medical reasons while awaiting trial. Fourteen other suspects are in custody.
Authorities said the seriousness of the charges, including mass murder in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, increased the risk Alony might try to leave the country.
The suspects include Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, alias Abu Dahdah, who is accused of helping to organize the attacks in New York and Washington, and has been charged with 3,000 counts of murder.
The correspondent's relationship with Yarkas and other al-Qaida members exceeded simple friendship or normal journalistic activities, authorities are reported to have said.
Alony, who interviewed Osama bin Laden shortly after the attacks, is charged with providing money and assistance to al-Qaida operatives and with recruiting fighters for the group.
© Copyright 2004 by United Press International
