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Germany train bomb trial begins Germany train bomb trial begins
(about 3 hours later)
The trial has begun in Germany of one of the two main suspects accused of attempting to bomb two regional commuter trains in July last year.The trial has begun in Germany of one of the two main suspects accused of attempting to bomb two regional commuter trains in July last year.
The explosives failed to detonate, but prosecutors said that many passengers would have died if they had gone off. Youssef Mohammed al-Hajdib, 22, accused of attempted murder, was found guilty in absentia in his native Lebanon just before the start of the trial.
A Lebanese citizen studying in Germany, Youssef Mohammed al-Hajdib, 22, is accused of attempted murder. He got a life sentence, while second suspect Jihad Hamad - who had fled back to Lebanon - was jailed for 12 years.
Meanwhile, Hajdib was found guilty in his absence on Tuesday and sentenced to life in prison by a court in Beirut. The bombs did not go off, but could have caused carnage, prosecutors say.
The second suspect, Jihad Hamad, fled to his native Lebanon, where he was jailed for 12 years. Both were convicted of attempted murder. The two men planned the attacks after becoming incensed by caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in European newspapers, prosecutors added.
Hamad had admitted helping to plant the suitcase bombs, saying it was in response to cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which had appeared in newspapers across Europe.
Three other men on trial in the Lebanese capital were acquitted.
Construction flawConstruction flaw
At the start of Hajdib's trial in Dusseldorf, German prosecutors said the pair had planted identical suitcases containing propane gas and crude detonators on two trains in Cologne.At the start of Hajdib's trial in Dusseldorf, German prosecutors said the pair had planted identical suitcases containing propane gas and crude detonators on two trains in Cologne.
Police said a construction flaw stopped the bombs explodingProsecutors accused Hajdib of planning the attacks with Hamad in an attempt to "kill an undetermined number of people". The men were detained after police released CCTV footageProsecutors accused Hajdib of planning the attacks with Hamad in an attempt to "kill an undetermined number of people".
"A detonation would have in both cases led to a significant wave of pressure; lighter fluid in the 'bomb trolleys' could have set off a fireball," AFP news agency quoted the charge sheet as saying.
A lawyer for Hajdib said his client had deliberately designed the devices so they would not explode, adding that he was "not a dangerous terrorist".A lawyer for Hajdib said his client had deliberately designed the devices so they would not explode, adding that he was "not a dangerous terrorist".
"Perhaps they just wanted to send a message," said Bernd Rosenkranz, quoted by AFP.
Hajdib was arrested at the main rail station in the Baltic Sea port city of Kiel in August 2006 after police made closed circuit TV footage of the two suspects public.Hajdib was arrested at the main rail station in the Baltic Sea port city of Kiel in August 2006 after police made closed circuit TV footage of the two suspects public.
A note written in Arabic, a telephone number in Lebanon and packets of starch with labels in Arabic and English were found alongside the devices.A note written in Arabic, a telephone number in Lebanon and packets of starch with labels in Arabic and English were found alongside the devices.
The identical suitcase bombs were fitted with timers set to go off 10 minutes before the trains arrived in Dortmund and Koblenz respectively.The identical suitcase bombs were fitted with timers set to go off 10 minutes before the trains arrived in Dortmund and Koblenz respectively.
Police said they failed to detonate because of a construction flaw.Police said they failed to detonate because of a construction flaw.
Hamad, who fled to Lebanon and gave himself up to police last year, admitted helping to plant the bombs.
Three other men on trial in the Lebanese capital Beirut were acquitted.