ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – A Sudanese man is being tried in the United Arab Emirates for allegedly plotting a bomb attack in Abu Dhabi aimed at killing foreigners, a local newspaper reported Monday, February 22.
The National daily said that the unnamed 29-year-old defendant faces charges related to plotting to "commit acts of terror in the capital."
"He scouted and inspected locations to execute his plan of planting explosives to kill foreigners in the country," the newspaper said on its website quoting court documents.
It also quoted the prosecution as saying the defendant had posted on Facebook and Twitter material aimed at promoting and recruiting members for the Islamic State (ISIS) group.
The man who appeared before an Abu Dhabi court is being tried under the UAE's anti-terror law.
If convicted, he could face execution, life imprisonment, and or fines of up to 100 million dirhams ($27.2 million), the paper said.
The defendant has denied the charges against him.
He has also asked for a court appointed lawyer saying he could not afford the legal fees, the newspaper added.
The case was adjourned to March 14.
UAE authorities have enacted tougher anti-terror legislation, including harsher jail terms and even introducing the death penalty for crimes linked to religious hatred and extremist groups.
In July, the UAE executed an Emirati woman for the jihadist-inspired 2014 murder of an American school teacher in an Abu Dhabi shopping mall.
Her husband is accused of seeking to carry out attacks on targets including Abu Dhabi's Formula 1 circuit and has reportedly claimed to be the local leader of IS. He is currently on trial. – Rappler.com