Posted on 08/29/2002 2:43:29 PM PDT by knighthawk
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - A German judge on Thursday freed one of five Algerians held in connection with a plot to blow up a crowded French Christmas market, citing a lack of evidence.
Abdelkader Krimou, falsely named in the indictment as Samir Karimou, had been charged with belonging to the terror group, but not directly with plotting the attack. The charges were dropped as of Thursday.
Judge Karlheinz Zeiher ruled there was not enough evidence that he belonged to the group, which prosecutors say intended to set off explosives at the Christmas market in Strasbourg, France in December 2000.
Krimou admitted to the court that he had spent time in a military training camp in Afghanistan, but said he left it after only three months because he lacked the discipline.
He also admitted having contact with some of the other four suspects on trial in Frankfurt since April, but has claimed he knew nothing of their plans.
Salim Boukari, Aeurobi Beandalis, Fouhad Sabour and Lamine Maroni are standing trial on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization, plotting to blow up an open area full of people, falsifying documents and committing weapons violations.
The four were arrested in December 2000 and police stopped Krimou the following April, after his telephone number was found among Beandalis' personal papers.
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