Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS75
2008-01-16 10:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
SOUGHIR TERRORISM TRIAL ENDS IN STIFF SENTENCES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #0075 0161030 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 161030Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6889
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000075
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER BE
SUBJECT: SOUGHIR TERRORISM TRIAL ENDS IN STIFF SENTENCES
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000075
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER BE
SUBJECT: SOUGHIR TERRORISM TRIAL ENDS IN STIFF SENTENCES
1. (U) A Belgian court convicted Bilal Soughir and five other men
January 10 under Belgium's 2003 antiterrorism law. The six were on
trial for abetting the recruitment and training of terrorists for
suicide attacks in Iraq, including Muriel Degauque, a Belgian
national who in 2005 blew herself up in a suicide bomb attack in
Iraq that targeted U.S. forces. The court imposed stiff sentences
on five out of the six suspects, ranging from 28 months to ten
years, with one defendant receiving a suspended sentence. The
leader of the cell, Bilal Soughir, received a maximum sentence of 10
years and remains in police custody. Some defendants are expected
to appeal the verdict.
2. (SBU) Comment: Belgian counterterrorism officials consider the
verdict and stiff sentences a significant success in their ongoing
counterterrorism efforts. U.S.-Belgian cooperation was at the
forefront, with various U.S. agencies dealing with counterterrorism
cooperating with Belgium's prosecution of the case.
FOX
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER BE
SUBJECT: SOUGHIR TERRORISM TRIAL ENDS IN STIFF SENTENCES
1. (U) A Belgian court convicted Bilal Soughir and five other men
January 10 under Belgium's 2003 antiterrorism law. The six were on
trial for abetting the recruitment and training of terrorists for
suicide attacks in Iraq, including Muriel Degauque, a Belgian
national who in 2005 blew herself up in a suicide bomb attack in
Iraq that targeted U.S. forces. The court imposed stiff sentences
on five out of the six suspects, ranging from 28 months to ten
years, with one defendant receiving a suspended sentence. The
leader of the cell, Bilal Soughir, received a maximum sentence of 10
years and remains in police custody. Some defendants are expected
to appeal the verdict.
2. (SBU) Comment: Belgian counterterrorism officials consider the
verdict and stiff sentences a significant success in their ongoing
counterterrorism efforts. U.S.-Belgian cooperation was at the
forefront, with various U.S. agencies dealing with counterterrorism
cooperating with Belgium's prosecution of the case.
FOX