Rabei Osman El Sayed Ahmed

Rabei Osman El Sayed Ahmed, born in Gharbia, Egypt, on July 22, 1971, was arrested on June 7, 2004, and was detained at the Voghera prison. Rabei played a key role as one of the organizers of the terrorist group responsible for the Madrid train bombings on March 11, 2004, and the subsequent suicide explosion in Leganés on April 3, 2004. He was also actively involved in recruiting individuals for suicide attacks and coordinating terrorist cells operating in various countries across Europe and beyond.
Rabei first entered Italy in April 2003 and resided in Milan. Before arriving in Italy, he had clandestinely entered Germany in 1999, moved to Spain, and then traveled through France before reaching Italy 18 months later. Rabei had already been under investigation in Spain, where authorities had identified him as an “extremely radical” individual involved in “indoctrinating and radicalizing” young people.
In Spain, he established connections with individuals responsible for the 2004 Madrid attacks, including Basel Ghalyoun, who was seen on the trains on the day of the Leganés massacre. Italian police began monitoring Rabei’s activities through his phone and internet communications. During this period, he was frequently seen at an apartment on Via Cadore. After disappearing for a time, Rabei re-entered Italy on February 1, 2004, and moved from the Via Cadore apartment to Rajeh Mohammed Yahia Mawad’s residence on Via Chiasserini on June 3, 2004.
On June 7, 2004, the Milan prosecutor issued arrest warrants for Rabei in connection with the aforementioned crimes. During his interrogation, Rabei initially exercised his right to remain silent but later admitted to having been in contact with those responsible for the 2004 attacks, whom he had met during his time in Spain. He denied any direct involvement in the Madrid bombings, claiming that he was in Milan at the time.
Meanwhile, Belgian authorities also launched an investigation, as one of Rabei’s associates, known as “Mourad”, was found to have a Belgian phone number. A search of Mourad’s residence uncovered significant evidence, including videotapes titled “The Desire for Martyrdom,” writings promoting jihad, and connections to the fundamentalist Islamic group Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group. Additionally, a will belonging to Mourad and another individual was found, suggesting that they anticipated dying for the “Islamic cause.”
The court analyzed intercepted communications between Rabei and Mourad, revealing Rabei’s statements such as “the operation started four days ago,” and “I’m sitting here listening to religious hymns for the martyrs.” These remarks indicated his deep involvement in the world of religious terrorism. In another intercepted conversation between Mourad and an associate named “Sackar”, coded language was used, such as “do you want to wash clothes?” and “our brother wants to take the clothes and leave.” These phrases likely referred to the preparation for a suicide attack, with “clothes” being a metaphor for the shroud in which the body would be wrapped.
Rabei’s name was mentioned multiple times in this context, further implicating him in terrorist activities. The initial judges determined that Rabei was an influential member of al-Qaeda and a leader of the Islamic cell responsible for the Madrid bombings, as he had not hesitated to claim responsibility for the attack. In an intercepted conversation on May 26, 2004, Rabei told Yahia, “I don’t hide the fact that we carried out the Madrid attack; I planned the Madrid operation myself.” Although the defense questioned the credibility of this statement, arguing that he did not repeat the claim in a phone call with Mourad on April 12, 2004, it nonetheless underscored his involvement.
Rabei’s online activities were heavily focused on viewing radical Islamic propaganda. He accessed hundreds of audio files, including Mujahideen combat manuals and proclamations from radical ideologues like Osama Bin Laden, and participated in forums associated with radical Islamists. Additionally, a search of his apartment uncovered eleven photographs, including images of a briefcase, a vest fitted with a battery and button, a man wearing the vest holding the button, and various books, documents, and pamphlets related to Arab martyrs, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the September 11 attacks. Rabei denied ownership of the computer and any connection to the photographs and materials found on it. The eleven photos appeared to be instructions for assembling an explosive device similar to those used in the Madrid bombings.
In another intercepted conversation, Rabei urged Yahia to join al-Qaeda, saying, “The Quran says we must perform jihad.” He also remarked, “You see that those in Madrid have purified our hearts.” Upon viewing the video of Nick Berg’s execution in Iraq, Rabei said “die, die, kill him” and also stated that his goal was to become a martyr: “Only two prayers remain, and I can head toward death for God; my dream will be realized, and I will rest.”
Given all the evidence reviewed by the court, while it could not definitively determine whether Rabei was the author, co-author, or organizer of the Madrid massacre, it concluded that he was indeed a terrorist. He was sentenced to ten years in prison. Following his arrest in 2004, he served his time until 2007 when he was extradited to Spain to complete his sentence related to the Madrid attacks. In Spain, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison and was later repatriated to Egypt in February 2021.