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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Soddy accused of planning attack in Jordan |
| 2005-06-09 |
| A Saudi citizen pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of attempting to carry out a suicide attack in December 2004 on oil tankers at the Karameh border post. Fahd Noman al-Fahiqi, 24, maintained his innocence before Jordan's State Security Court on three counts of conspiracy to carry out an attack and possession and transport of explosives for use in an illicit operation, according to statements from the prosecution. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordnian-born head of al-Qaida in Iraq, and Dirar Ismael Mahmud Abu Audeh, also known as Abu Abdel Rahman al-Afghani, are being tried in absentia on the same charges. Fahiqi allegedly crossed the Iraqi border in a car laden with explosives and headed toward several oil tankers but was unable to accomplish his mission due to "technical problems." Authorities arrested Fahiqi shortly afterward when they discovered explosives in his car, read the charge report. Fahiqi studied at Imam University in Saudi Arabia where he became acquainted with several people who had embraced takfiri thoughts, a policy of killing anybody considered an infidel. The prosecution claims Fahiqi and others infiltrated Iraq from the Saudi border where they met up with Zarqawi in August 2004. Zarqawi encouraged them to join mujahedin groups. The defendant became a suicide bomber after receiving weapons training in Iraq and instruction on the benefits of martyrdom, read the report. The targeted oil tankers and trucks transported goods from the Karameh border into Iraq. The prosecution maintains Zarqawi instructed the men to launch suicide attacks using cars laden with explosives. Presiding Judge Fawaz Bqour adjourned the trial until next Monday to hear the case for the prosecution. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |