ISRAEL: SEVEN APPEAR BEFORE TRIBUNAL ON SABOTAGE CHARGES.

Record ID: 399494

  • Title: ISRAEL: SEVEN APPEAR BEFORE TRIBUNAL ON SABOTAGE CHARGES.
  • Date: 14th January 1968
  • Summary: COURT-ROOM SCENES, ACCUSED IN DOCK, PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE. Initials AA/VS/MR/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th January 1968 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOD, ISRAEL
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVAEHEXAQGFIL34TJMBO7RH49SQU
  • Story Text: SEVEN PEOPLE, INCLUDING A WOMAN, APPEARED BEFORE A MILITARY TRIBUNAL IN LOD YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) CHARGED WITH PLACING A BOMB IN A JERUSALEM CINEMA; PLACING A BOMB IN THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT ISRAEL'S GOVERNMENT HOUSE; AND TRANSPORTING WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION BY CAR.

    THE ACCUSED, MOSTLY YOUNG MEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, ALL SAID THEY LIVED ON THE WEST BANK OF THE RIVER JORDAN. THE WOMAN WAS REPORTED TO LIVE IN SYRIA.

    THEY WERE ALLEGED TO BE MEMBERS OF EL FATAH, THE UNDERGROUND ARAB ORGANISATION.

    THE MOST SERIOUS CHARGE RELATES TO THE BOMB IN THE JERUSALEM CINEMA WHICH THE ISRAELIS SAY COULD HAVE COST HUNDREDS OF LIVES. THE BOMB WAS FOUND IN AN AIRLINE BAG IN THE CINEMA AND HANDED TO A POLICEMAN. HE REALISED THE TIMING MECHANISM HAD ONLY 15 MINUTES TO RUN AND TOOK IT TO A NEARBY COPSE WHERE IT EXPLODED HARMLESSLY.

    AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER A RADIO ANTENNA USED BY THE UNITED NATIONS AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE WAS DAMAGED BY A BOMB EXPLOSION.

    ARMS ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE ACCUSED INCLUDED A QUANTITY OF SUB-MACHINE GUNS, RIFLES, HAND GRENADES AND EXPLOSIVES WITH DETONATING EQUIPMENT. PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF THE ARMS WAS PRODUCED BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL.

    SOME OF THE CHARGES CARRY THE DEATH PENALTY. THE TRIBUNAL WAS ADJOURNED.
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