Posted on 07/05/2003 6:07:44 AM PDT by knighthawk
DÜSSELDORF - A radical Palestinian group plotted to attack the Jewish Museum in Berlin and a Jewish-owned disco in Düsseldorf last year, a Jordanian terror suspect testified at his trial Friday. The suspect, Shadi Abdellah, 26, told a state court in Düsseldorf that the buildings were studied before his arrest in April 2002, but that no decision had been made on when to carry out attacks.
"We hadn't yet decided whether we would do it with a car bomb or some other way," he added.
Abdellah was among nine people detained by the German authorities on suspicion of plotting attacks for the group, Al Tawhid. The group's aim, according to Abdellah, is to topple the Jordanian government and "fight the Jews."
Abdellah was arrested for allegedly ordering a pistol with a silencer and a crate of hand grenades from a fellow cell member. He could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of membership in a terrorist organization and faking passports.
Abdellah admitted Friday that the group had ordered grenades and a pistol, adding that "we were living in Germany and it's not so easy to get hold of weapons here."
From his home in Afghanistan, Al Tawhid's alleged leader, Abu Musab Zarqawi, urged the German cell to obtain explosives, but the group decided that was too risky, Abdellah said.
Abdellah, who was testifying Friday for the fourth day, has said he agreed to work in Germany for Zarqawi in early 2001 after they got to know each other in Afghanistan. Abdellah has acknowledged that during his stay there he also served briefly as Osama bin Laden's bodyguard. Secretary of State Colin Powell has described Zarqawi as an associate of bin Laden.
Abdellah's trial is to continue Tuesday.
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