You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Africa: North
Morocco Bomb Suspects Get to Swing
2003-08-19
A Moroccan court on Tuesday sentenced four men to death for their involvement in a wave of suicide attacks in Casablanca in May that killed 32 bystanders.
My, that was quick.
The four were convicted of having plotted to blow themselves up in the May 16 attacks, which also killed 12 suicide bombers. The four were among dozens of defendants in a trial of members of a clandestine Moroccan group, the Salafia Jihadia. Officials said 83 other defendants were convicted of being members of the outlawed group and handed sentences ranging from 10 months in prison to life. Other charges included threatening state security or taking part in a criminal association.
Bet it was a mighty long hearing!
Security was extremely tight, with defendants lined up behind a bulletproof glass shield and a metal detector in the courtroom. When the verdict was announced, defendants cried ``God is great!’’
That's Arabic for "hubba-hubba!"
The trial was the first of several expected for hundreds of suspects connected to the attacks in Casablanca that killed 32 bystanders and a dozen suicide bombers. The bombers used homemade explosives stuffed into backpacks and detonated at almost precisely the same time in five locations: a major downtown hotel as well as Jewish and Spanish sites. Investigators have said the suicide attackers were all drafted from a shantytown on the edge of Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city.
Splodeydopes recruited from a shantytown. How, um, typical.
Though they were all of Moroccan nationality, local authorities believe an international network was behind the attacks.
None of the international leaders could hang around for the actual bombings, of course, they were off to other shantytowns.
Except for any al-Ghamdis, who were in jug...
The bombings stunned this North African kingdom, which had prided itself on the peace that prevailed here despite a deadly Islamic insurgency that has raged in neighboring Algeria for more than a decade. The four-judge panel deliberated for about 14 hours before announcing the verdict at around 1 a.m. Defendants have eight days to appeal.
And after that their necks stretch? Good idea.
During the trial, one of the would-be bombers — Mohamed El Omari, a 23-year-old night watchman — testified he was ``not happy with the (political) situation in Morocco’’ and had ``hoped to blow himself up’’ at a major downtown hotel that was targeted.
"Yeah, me and Ahmed were real unhappy ’cause we couldn’t beat our wimmin, and nobody was giving us money, and there was too many guards around the Zionist cemetery, so we decided to blow up a hotel instead. "
"Your honor you must acquit my clients! From their own testimony it’s clear that they’re as pure as the driven snow!"
"There’s no snow in Morocco, counselor. Shuddup!"
Two others accused of plotting to act as suicide bombers were identified as Yassine Lahnach, a street vendor, and Rachid Jalil, a welder. A fourth man, Hassan Tawsi, unemployed, was accused of being a ``backup’’ bomber. More than 30 people were sentenced to life in prison for their involvement in preparing unsuccessful attacks in tourist attractions, including the historic city of Marrakech and two beach resorts, Agadir and Essaouira. Three spiritual leaders of the Salafia Jihadia group were sentenced to 30 years in prison.
"You can’t put me in prison! I’m holy!"
"Shuddup."
Justice Minister Mohammed Bouzoubaa has said that more than 1,000 suspected Islamic militants are facing legal proceedings for terrorism-related activities across the North African kingdom. Morocco has not carried out the death sentence since 1993. In July, a Moroccan court sentenced 10 Islamic extremists to death for their roles in a series of slayings, thefts and attacks.
Here in the States we used to have "Sparky" the chair. Wonder if the Moroccan executioner has named his sword?
Posted by:Steve White

#2  He calls his sword "the Adjuster", for those whose necks need to be lengthened ever so slightly.
Posted by: Tresho   2003-8-19 1:16:04 PM  

#1  He named it "Lop". It means, er... lop in Arabic.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2003-8-19 8:13:37 AM  

00:00