'Al Qaeda plot' trial draws to a close

AMMAN — Three young Jordanians reiterated their “not guilty” pleas to terrorism charges on Monday as a high-profile Al Qaeda terror plot trial came to a close.

In their final statements to the State Security Court on Monday, Jordanians Mohammad Khater, Fawzi Abdul Jabbar and Ahmad Abu Taha said they were innocent of charges of plotting to carry out a series of terror attacks on diplomatic missions and shopping centres in October 2012. 

The three men are among 11 Jordanians facing life in prison for their alleged involvement in a foiled Al Qaeda-linked plot to strike several targets across Amman to mark the anniversary of the November 11, 2005, triple hotel bombings.

The court, presided over by Judge Ahmad Tarawneh, set May 16 as the date for issuing the final verdict. 

The defendants are accused of having active ties with Al Qaeda in Iraq, now known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and of travelling to Syria to receive funding and training to target various sites in a series of suicide and “guerrilla” style attacks.

In the initial charge sheet, security officials said the 11 men had received explosives and rockets from Syria to carry out the alleged attacks.

Also on Monday, the court sentenced two Jordanian Islamists to five years in prison for allegedly attempting to recruit citizens to join armed groups in the Gaza Strip.

In a decision handed down by Tarawneh, the court sentenced Issam Al Akby and Mahmoud Masharfeh to five-year prison terms for “joining armed groups” and “recruiting for armed terrorist organisations” in violation of Article 148 of the Penal Code. 

A third defendant, Abdullah Jawabreh, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in absentia.