SE1 al-Qaeda suspect ‘to be questioned’ about Madrid bombings

Abu Qatada was arrested at a flat near St George's Circus in October 2002 by special branch police accompanied by MI5 agents who smashed down the front door. He is being held at Belmarsh high security prison.

According to the Evening Standard, 43-year-old Abu Qatada, a former cleric at the Finsbury Park Mosque, is said to be connected to one of the men held over the Spanish train bombings.

A Spanish security source is reported as saying: "It can't all be coincidence that Qatada's name is linked to suspects in Germany, France, Italy, Britain, Belgium as well as Spain."

During an appeal against detention, which Abu Qatada lost in January, a dossier submitted to the tribunal by the Home Secretary stated the intelligence services believed he had met Bin Laden.

• A three minute silence to commemorate the 200 victims of the Madrid train bombings was observed at Waterloo Station.