Germany: Big Terrorism Trial Begins

(Düsseldorf, Germany) The trial of four alleged terrorists, alleged ringleader Fritz Gelowicz, Adem Yilmaz, Daniel Schneider and Atilla Selek, began yesterday with each facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, plotting terrorist attacks and membership in a terrorist organization, the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU).

The home-grown terrorist cell reportedly wanted Germany to withdraw troops from Afghanistan -- and to kill Americans.

Under tight security, four men aged between 23 and 30 took to the dock on Wednesday in Düsseldorf to answer accusations of plotting a spate of bombings in discos, restaurants, airports, the Federal Prosecutor's Office and US army installations.

The alleged plot, which was in its final stages when it was thwarted by police in September 2007, would have been the most destructive in Germany's postwar history.

A fifth suspect, believed to be a central figure, is being sought by police.

After receiving a tip from an American intelligence source, the three Germans and a Turk were arrested in a raid which found them ready to strike. Police discovered hydrogen peroxide-based explosives with more potency than used in the 2004 Madrid bombings or the 2005 London attack. Targets for their terror attacks reportedly were the American airbase in Ramstein and cities of Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich.

The trial is anticipated to be spectacular, lasting up to two years. Over two hundred witnesses have been readied by the prosecution. The men have been in solitary confinement since their arrests and will be held behind a bullet-proof plastic wall during the trial.

Defense lawyers have stated that police received information from US officials which was illegally acquired and, therefore, it shouldn't be allowed in the prosecution of suspected terrorist scumbags. The lawyers are also expected to assert that some witnesses giving statements were held in countries that practice torture so their testimony is invalid. Sheesh! It sounds like a type of New York Times defense. Okay, they didn't really say scumbags but the rest is true.

Notably, after the suspected terrorists were arrested, the Islamic Jihad Union posted a statement on the Internet which claimed responsibility for the bombing plot.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.