AMMAN — The State Security Court (SSC) on Wednesday began the trial of three suspects in the October 23 terrorist attack on St. George Church in Hmoud, Karak Governorate, that killed nine people.

 

The three suspects were informed of the charges and were assigned lawyers as stipulated by law, according to Lawyer Amer Halaseh.

 

“The court hearing went smoothly and in accordance with the law,” Halaseh told The Jordan Times.

 

On Tuesday, SSC Prosecutor Brig. Gen. Ahmad Shahltough said in a statement that the investigation had covered all necessary procedures, including hearing prosecution witnesses, collecting evidence from the crime scene, documenting the weapons and ammunition used in the attack, and questioning the defendants suspected of carrying out or participating in it.

 

The prosecutor filed seven categories of charges against the defendants under the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2006 and the Penal Code of 1960.

 

The charges include nine counts of jointly committing terrorist acts resulting in death, in violation of article 2 and 7of the Anti-Terrorism Law and Article 76 of the Penal Code.

 

The defendants also face two counts of jointly committing terrorist acts using weapons and ammunition, under Article 7of the Anti-Terrorism Law, with reference to Articles 2 and 7of the same law and Article 76 of the Penal Code.

 

Other charges include jointly possessing weapons and ammunition with the intent to use them in terrorist acts, under Articles 3and 7of the Anti-Terrorism Law, with reference to Article 7of the same law and Article 76 of the Penal Code.

 

The prosecutor also charged the defendants with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts using weapons, under the Anti-Terrorism Law. The remaining charges involve promoting the ideology of a terrorist group and committing acts likely to disrupt public order and endanger public safety and security, under articles 2, 3 and 7 of the said law.