Madrid attacks: 3 Moroccan suspects freed

The judge investigating last March Madrid attacks, Juan del Olmo, decided on Thursday to conditionally free three Moroccans suspected of involvement in the blasts, a judicial source said.

The Moroccans are Mohamed Bekkali, Mohamed Chaoui and Abderrahim Zbakh, nicknamed the "alchemist," who is suspected of manufacturing the bombs used in the attacks that killed 191 people and left hundreds of others injured.

The judicial source said the three individuals were released at the request of prosecutor Olga Sanchez, explaining that elements that led to their arrest "were not reinforced."

The common point between the three young Moroccans is their connection with the phone shop run by Jamal Zougam, who is accused of being the author of the attacks.

The three suspects should report weekly to the judge and are not allowed to leave Spain. Should new elements occur in the investigation, they can be re-incarcerated, the source said.