B I M M MM M 21 of 28 convicted in Madrid train bombings i Tracy Wilkinson Los Angeles Times A Spanish court Wednesday convicted 21 men in the 2004 bombings of Madrid's train system the deadliest terror attack in the country's history but acquitted an Egyptian national whom authorities once touted as the mastermind The mixed verdicts for fora a total of 28 defendants contained in a page ruling and read in a heavily guarded courtroom on the outskirts of the capital capped a case that exposed the workings workings' of Islamic terror networks in the heart of Europe and foreshadowed other attacks that would follow in London and elsewhere A total of people were killed and nearly 2000 injured when bombs hidden in backpacks ripped through four commuter trains during the morning rush hour March 11 2004 The investigation eventually revealed a franchise of militants who were inspired by al but who originated in northern Africa and had lived and worked in Spain for years The trial which started in February has reminded S Sp g r rd's ls of their continued vulnerability to attack The proceedings were used as asa asa asa a political lightning rod in ina a bitter fight between the leftist government elected just days after the bombings and the wing right-wing party that lost power Three defendants a Spaniard and two Moroccans were convicted of mass murder and sentenced to thousands of years years years' in prison Under Spanish law however they will serve no more than 40 years Eighteen other defendants were found guilty of serious but ut lesser charges including membership in an armed terrorist organization The rest were acquitted A gasp went up in the courthouse packed with survivors of the bombings families of the dead and scores of journalists when some of the acquittals were read Several relatives said later they were furious and disappointed I do not like that murderers are being let loose said Pilar Manjon whose year old son was killed in the bomb blasts and who now leads a victims group This is not about reprisals or vengeance said Jesus Rodriguez who lost most of his hearing in inthe inthe inthe the bombings But society needs a solution and this has not been made trade clear Perhaps the most startling acquittal for some at the court was that of Osman Sayed Ahmed once viewed as the mastermind who is in an Italian prison and who listened to the verdict by teleconference In Italy he was convicted of belonging to a terrorist organization and is serving a sentence that recently was reduced from 10 to eight years Zulueta Ahmed's attorney argued that much I of the evidence collected against his client was questionable The case Iy on wiretaps conducted by j Italian investigators that t captured conversations that might have been translated incorrectly Zulueta maintained In one of those conversations investigators said Ahmed claimed the Madrid bombings as his project Other testimony suggested however that he was a braggart who had little active role in terrorism This verdict was not a surprise Zulueta said after the ruling was read In this case justice was served