Jordan Times
Thursday, July 6, 2006
Aqaba rocket warheads contained TNT — explosives expert
By Rana Husseini
AMMAN — An explosives expert on Wednesday
testified in the case of six men standing trial at the State Security Court (SSC),
charged with launching a rocket attack in Aqaba last year that killed a
Jordanian soldier.
Twelve defendants are being tried in the case including seven Syrians, four
Iraqis and one Saudi. Six of the defendants will stand trial in absentia.
The group is also accused with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts and the
possession and use of explosives.
The defendants smuggled seven rockets into Aqaba and stored them in a warehouse
in the city along with timing devices, according to the prosecution.
The intended targets in the Aug. 18 attack were two US warships docked in the
Port of Aqaba.
Four rockets malfunctioned; the remaining three missed their targets.
The General Intelligence Department (GID) witness told the court he examined
four rockets found in a warehouse on the day of the incident.
Three of the four rockets were Chinese. They all had warheads that contained
dangerous explosives (TNT), the witness told the court.
The prosecution expert estimated the range of the rockets at 8.5 kilometres,
each containing 1,214 shrapnel that can spread in a 25-metre radius when it
explodes.
Eight of the 12 defendants face an additional charge of committing acts that
undermine relations with a foreign country.
According to the prosecution, some of the defendants left the country shortly
after the attack.
During yesterday’s 90-minute trial, the state prosecutor rested his case. The
defence will begin to present their side on Wednesday, July 12.