The Specialist penal court began trying 14 suspects accused of forming an armed gang and targeting Yemeni security and military sites as well as western interests in Yemen. In the session headed by Judge Mohamed Al-Baadani, prosecution read its findings. It accused the suspects of forming an armed gang to kidnap American nationals in Yemen and target military and security leaders as well. Prosecution charges affirmed that suspects noted foreigner gathering places at the Sheraton Taj Sheba Hotel and a Hadda residential complex.Forging Civil Status stamps also was among charges. The forgery was meant to prepare identity cards for the accused to travel to Iraq to fight foreigners there. According to prosecution, six kilos of TNT were found with the suspects who intended to blow up security officials’ houses. Prosecution claims also revealed that between 2004 and 2005, the suspects surveyed residents on the whereabouts of American nationals. Prosecution revealed that the accused confessed to renting a house and buying a computer to forge IDs. Most suspects denied the allegations, saying they forged the IDs to go Iraq to fight Americans there. Suspect Ali Sufian assured that he gathered the youth for “Jihad” in Iraq and did not think of targeting Americans in Yemen.
| "No, no! Certainly not!" |
The court adjourned until next Saturday to enable some suspects to authorize lawyers to stand on their behalf. Other suspects were allowed to make photocopies to submit their plea. Security arrested the 14 suspects May 9, 2005 south of SanaÂ’a in Shomila. They were found with weapons, explosives and explosive belts, together with plans to conduct terror operations by attacking residential complexes occupied by foreigners and security personnel. They were about to carry out their plans when they were detained. Security said the cell was led by a Mohamed Sofian Al-Amari.