The 26 indicted are said to be part of a 'terrorist cell' believed to be behind a string of bombings last year, including the Sept. 29 roadside car bomb explosion that killed five soldiers and two civilians in Tripoli.
The 26 indicted are reportedly part of a 'terrorist cell' believed to be behind a series of bombings last year, including the Sept. 29, 2008 roadside car bomb explosion that killed five soldiers and two civilians in Tripoli.
Judge Sari accused the suspects of establishing an armed gang with the intent to kill soldiers and civilians and undermine the state's security — crimes punishable by death in Lebanon.
Among the defendants were Fatah Islam's alleged new leader, Abdel-Ghani Ali Jawhar, a 25-year-old from the northern Akkar region, and Obeid Mubarak Abed Al Kafil, a Saudi.
No trial date has been set. Sari also dismissed charges against 16 others implicated in the Aug. 13 bombing for lack of evidence.
The indictment, which was based on the testimonies of the defendants, detailed tales about how Abssi had been smuggled. Detainee Hamzeh al-Qassem revealed that he used to send food to Abssi and his men who were hiding in the town of Markabta after fleeing Nahr al-Bared refugee camp with the help of Khaled Seif. Qassem said Seif also helped smuggle Abssi in a loaded cement pickup truck to the nearby Baddawi refugee camp. Abssi remained in touch with Abdul Rahman Awad, who takes shelter in the southern refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh, over a mobile phone, according to Qassem. In one of his meetings with Abssi, Qassem said Abssi received a phone call from Awad who informed him of the successful bombing attack against Brig. Gen. Francois el-Hajj. Awad again called Abssi to tell him of the victorious bombing blast that targeted Capt. Wissam Eid. Qassem confessed that Abssi had asked him to secure his safe passage to Syria after he heard of the arrest of one of Fatah Islam's cadres in Tripoli from al-Rahim family. Upon Abssi's request, Qassem contacted Mustafa Dandal who took care of smuggling Abssi as well as Abu Ali, Abu Hisham, Abu Tabet al-Tunisi , Abu al-Khabab, Abu Ahmad and Abu al-Walid to Syria in return for $500 for each person. Adnan, whose nickname is Haroun, and Ali al-Ahmed helped Dandal transport Abssi and his gang in a Mitsubishi van.
