Eight face terror charges in Yemen
A Yemeni prosecutor today accused eight suspected al-Qaida militants of plotting to carry out attacks in six Arab states, including Yemen.
The eight, including five Yemenis, two Syrians and prime defendant Anwar Bayan Sadiq al-Gaylani, an Iraqi, are in custody charged with plotting to attack the British and Italian embassies and the French cultural centre.
Most have previously denied plotting such attacks.
Al-Gaylani is also accused of writing a letter to al-Qaida’s Saudi leadership seeking weapons and ammunition, including TNT, Sam 7 missiles, rocket propelled grenade launchers, mortars, mines, remote-controlled detonators and night-vision goggles.
Documents presented to the court in the capital Sanaa alleged the group planned to target foreign banks, American fast food chains, Red Cross offices, DHL offices and western teachers, managers and doctors.
Prosecutor Saeed al-Aqil said the terror attacks were to take place in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Yemen.
The cell, however, was controlled by “higher leadership” allegedly based in Saudi Arabia, the court heard.
Defence lawyer Abdul Aziz al-Samawy rejected the allegations, saying “based on this talk, Anwar (al-Gaylani) must’ve been trying to act like the Pentagon”.
The suspects, including two Yemeni brothers, were detained in a crackdown on terrorism during recent months.
Al-Gaylani and one of the Syrians, Omran Mohammed Said, claimed they were tortured during the investigation and the court ordered doctors to examine them.
The eight are among 13 suspected al Qaida members detained here recently. Five were released, including a Yemeni woman, for lack of evidence. Police found hand grenades, military fatigue and documents showing sketches of sites to be attacked.
The trial was adjourned to May 16.
Yemen was the scene of 2000 suicide bombing of the destroyer, the USS Cole, that killed 17 American sailors.
Following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US, Yemen’s government joined the American-led war on terror and cracked down on militants.
