A Moroccan criminal court sentenced four Islamic activists...
A Moroccan criminal court sentenced four Islamic activists to death and dozens of others to heavy jail terms for suicide bomb attacks that killed 45 people in the city of Casablanca in May 2003
A Moroccan criminal court sentenced four Islamic activists to death and dozens of others to heavy jail terms for suicide bomb attacks that killed 45 people in the city of Casablanca in May 2003.
The four sentenced to death were Mohamed El Omari, a 23-year-old night watchman, Rachid Jalil, a 27-year-old welder, Yassine Lahnech, a 22-year-old travelling salesman and Hassan Taousi, 24, considered to be a leading member of Salafia Jihadia.
The reading of the verdict was largely drowned out by cries of "Allah Akbar" (God is great) by both the accused and members of their families in court. A defence lawyer said the sentences were much heavier than expected. The four had been charged with "sabotage and murder, undermining internal state security and criminal conspiracy".
No less than 12 of the 45 people who died in the attacks on May 16, which targeted a Spanish restaurant, the Belgian consulate, a Jewish community centre and cemetery and a hotel, were believed to have been suicide bombers.
Moroccan investigators concluded that the attacks were organised by the Salafia Jihadia movement, which mainly recruited among residents of poor suburbs in cities such as Casablanca, but they did not rule out participation by international groups.
None of the 87 accused in the trial, which opened on 21 July 2003, were acquitted. A total of 634 people were arrested in vast police sweeps which followed the Casablanca bomb attacks and King Mohammed VI promised "the moment of truth" had arrived for Islamic groups seeking to destabilise the country.
The four sentenced to death were Mohamed El Omari, a 23-year-old night watchman, Rachid Jalil, a 27-year-old welder, Yassine Lahnech, a 22-year-old travelling salesman and Hassan Taousi, 24, considered to be a leading member of Salafia Jihadia.
The reading of the verdict was largely drowned out by cries of "Allah Akbar" (God is great) by both the accused and members of their families in court. A defence lawyer said the sentences were much heavier than expected. The four had been charged with "sabotage and murder, undermining internal state security and criminal conspiracy".
No less than 12 of the 45 people who died in the attacks on May 16, which targeted a Spanish restaurant, the Belgian consulate, a Jewish community centre and cemetery and a hotel, were believed to have been suicide bombers.
Moroccan investigators concluded that the attacks were organised by the Salafia Jihadia movement, which mainly recruited among residents of poor suburbs in cities such as Casablanca, but they did not rule out participation by international groups.
None of the 87 accused in the trial, which opened on 21 July 2003, were acquitted. A total of 634 people were arrested in vast police sweeps which followed the Casablanca bomb attacks and King Mohammed VI promised "the moment of truth" had arrived for Islamic groups seeking to destabilise the country.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: Agence France Presse, 19/08/2003)