The Specialist Penal Court Monday continued hearing the defense of 11 men accused of belonging to an Al-Qaeda terrorist cell. The men are charged with bombing three foreign housing compounds in Riyadh in 2003. The cell which was led by Turki Al-Dandani is also alleged to have carried out attacks on military bases, industrial and oil installations. The bombing attacks resulted in the killing and wounding of 239 people including many innocent women and children. The attack occurred late on May 12 when five vehicles packed with explosives and terrorist hit squads attacked the Durrat Al-Jadawel, the Al-Hamra Oasis Village and the Vinnell Corporation Compound residential areas in the capital. At the Durrat Al-Jadawel, a car packed with explosives and five or six terrorists shot at and killed a Saudi Air Force policeman and an unarmed Saudi civilian security guard. However the terrorists' bomb suddenly detonated, killing all of the attackers and a Filipino worker. At the Al-Hamra Oasis Village and the Vinnell Corp. compound, the assault teams detonated both of their bombs, devastating the compounds and then opened fire and killed a number of residents. The lawyers for the 11 men have denied the charges against them. The lawyer for one of the suspects appealed for clemency. He said his client is “suffering from a magic spell and his psychological condition is very bad. He is always thinking of his family and begs for clemency.” The man admitted a charge of arms-trafficking but insisted the quantities of weapons were much lower than that alleged. He also admitted stealing a car but insisted that he did not harm anyone. He denied the charge of bringing wanted militants into the Kingdom. His lawyer also said his client apologized for having earlier threatened revenge on society upon his release from prison. Meanwhile, the courts have accepted the request of seven accused for more time to reply to charges against them. The court session was attended by the lawyers of four suspects and local media personnel.
