Defence witness testimonies conclude in 11/9 terror trial

AMMAN — The State Security Court on Monday concluded hearing defence witness testimonies in the ongoing trial of 11 Jordanians charged with plotting a series of Al Qaeda-inspired terror attacks across Amman.

In the brief session, defence attorney Taher Nassar requested a stay in proceedings  from the court, citing “intimidation” and a conflict in schedules behind his team’s failure to produce witnesses in the so-called 11/9 terror plot trial for the second straight session.

Presiding Judge Ahmad Tarawneh turned down Nassar’s request, insisting that the trial proceed as previously scheduled, setting a final court session for April 14.

The 11 defendants face up to life in prison for their alleged involvement in the foiled terror plot targeting Western diplomatic missions and shopping centres in Amman in October 2012.

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, which were to coincide with the anniversary of the November 9, 2005, Amman hotel bombings.

Relatives and the defendants, all aged between 19 and 22, deny any affiliation to Al Qaeda or other Islamist movements.

The court is set to issue its final verdict on April 21.

Meanwhile, a Jordanian charged with supporting jihadists groups in Syria was hospitalised on Monday after allegedly suffering heart problems.

Khaldoun Al Masri, a 26-year-old Amman resident, was taken to Prince Hamzah Hospital after he complained of shortness of breath and heart palpitations, according to security officials.

In a court session on Monday, Khaldoun’s co-defendants Murad Abu Baker and Muhannad Othman claimed that authorities transferred Masri on Monday after he spent three weeks in solitary confinement suffering shortness of breath and blackouts.

Security officials said Masri is currently listed in stable condition and remains hospitalised for further observation.

In light of Masri’s absence, the court moved to delay the three men’s trial to April 7.

Masri, Abu Baker and Othman, who were arrested near the Jordanian-Syrian border in October 2013, face charges of “joining armed groups in Syria” and “engaging in acts deemed illegal by the government”.

According to the initial charge sheet, the three men had intended to join the forces of Al Qaeda-linked Jabhat Al Nusra group.

The defendants deny the charges, claiming to have been “peaceful supporters” of the Syrian Islamist group.