Muslims plead not guilty in Danish terrorism trial

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

COPENHAGEN, Dec 6 (Reuters) Four Muslim Danes charged with planning an attack in Europe pleaded not guilty today in a trial held under Danish anti-terrorism legislation.

The four young men were arrested near Copenhagen in October last year and accused of trying to obtain weapons and explosives with the aim of carrying out an attack in Europe.

Prosecutors have not disclosed the planned location and date of the alleged attack, but have linked the four with two men arrested on terrorism charges last year in Bosnia, where police confiscated explosives and weapons.

The four defendants, named by Danish media as Abdul Basit Abu-Lifa, 17, Elias Ibn Hsain, 18, Imad Ali Jaloud, 20, and Adnan Avdic, 21, are Danish citizens, but prosecutors have not said if they were born in Denmark.

They could face life imprisonment if convicted, a sentence rarely imposed in Denmark.

The decision to send the four for trial, as advised by prosecutors, was taken by Justice Minister Lene Espersen, as required under Denmarks's post-September 11 anti-terrorism laws.

A defiant Abu-Lifa refused to stand when the judge entered the Copenhagen courtroom, Ritzau news agency said.

Prosecutor Jorgen Jensen told the court Islam was not on trial.

''I don't link radicalization with a particular religious belief,'' Ritzau quoted him as saying. ''In the U S for example, some extremist Christians have committed murder against abortion clinic doctors.'' The trial is expected to last more than three months.

Reuters BDP DB2116

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