London, Nov 1 : Three of the 21 convicted for the 2004 Madrid train bombings have been given a total of 120,755 years of sentence, but as per the Spanish law each will serve a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

A total of 28 persons, majority of whom were Moroccans and also included several Spaniards, were accused in the bombing case that killed 191 persons, and left over 1800 others injured.

Thirty-two-year old Moroccan Othman El Gnaoui, who was the plot’s second-in-command received  42,924 years of imprisonment, and his compatriot 33-year old  Jamal Zougam has been given 42,862 years.

Spaniard Emilio Trashorras, an ex-miner who provided the explosives, got 34,715 years.

Each were given 30 years for each of the 191 murders, 20 years for each of the 1,856 attempted murders and another 12 years for their association with terror outfit.

While most of the convicts talked and joked inside the special bullet-proof enclosure as sentences were read out, Zougam who had placed a bomb inside the train remained silent.

The conviction initially led to applause among spectators, but later on they felt that the sentencing was soft.

 “The sentences seem soft and wishy-washy considering the atrocity they committed,” The Sun quoted Carlos Jeria, whose son had died in bombing, as saying.

The acquittal of Rabei Ahmed, known as Mohamed the Egyptian, who is alleged to have masterminded the attack, raised several eyebrows here.

Ahmed is currently serving sentence in a prison in Italy in connection with his association with other terrorist groups.

Pilar Manjon, whose 20-year-old son was killed, said: “I don’t like it that murderers are going free.” (ANI)