Thirteen Moroccans charged with terrorism in Belgium

Under heavy security measures, the trial of thirteen Moroccans, allegedly members of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM), which is suspected of having links with Madrid-Casablanca bombings, opened on Thursday in Brussels, at the city's Palace of Justice.

The trial, reports <i>Morocco Times</i>, is the first terrorism case to reach the country’s courtroom under its new tougher anti-terrorism laws. The defendants could face up to five years in prison if convicted of belonging to a terrorist organization and up to 10 years if convicted of playing a coordinating role.