Four jailed for plotting terror attack over Prophet cartoon
A Danish court Monday sentenced four men to 12 years imprisonment after finding them guilty of planning terrorist attack on newspaper offices following a violent stir over published cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, the highest revered Muslim figure.
Prosecutor alleged that the men wanted to kill people in revenge for Jyllands-Posten's publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in 2005 that sparked protests in Muslim countries.
The men, a Tunisian and three Swedish citizens of Arab origin, who have denied charges against them, were caught on police cameras while they were discussing whether to behead or shoot their victims.
Prosecutors said three of the four men Munir Awad, Omar Abdallah Aboelazm and Munir Ben Mohamed Dhahri, a Tunisian citizen were arrested in December 2010 at a flat near the Danish capital.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges of terrorism and illegal possession of weapons.
The Jyllands-Posten newspaper carried 12 cartoons of the Prophet in 2005, triggering riots in Muslim countries that killed many.
The newspaper later apologised. Images of the Prophet and other holy figures of Islam are prohibited and regarded as insulting to them.
Swedish and Danish intelligence officials followed the men for months before they were arrested.
A machine-gun with a silencer, a pistol and 108 bullets, and rolls of duct tape were among items found in the men's possession when they were arrested.
Prosecutors alleged that they intended to kill "an unknown number" of people during the attack, which was planned for the same day as a sporting award ceremony attended by Crown Prince Frederik.
Presiding judge Katrine Eriksen ordered the four be expelled from Denmark after serving their sentence and instructed them to pay the trial costs.
Their lawyers argued that police surveillance recordings were insufficient proof that an attack was actually being planned.
Source: Europe News.Net
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