Jordan will begin the trial of a 13-member cell on Monday – ten Jordanians and three Saudis – accused of planning terror attacks against American interests in Jordan, according to the London-based daily A-Sharq Al-Awsat.
One Jordanian and three Saudis from the cell escaped arrest and will be tried in absentia. If convicted, the accused are likely to receive the death penalty.
The cell was revealed in December 2002 after officials monitored mobile phone text messages between the Saudis and their Jordanian counterparts. They planned on attacking the American Embassy in Amman and American army bases throughout Jordan.
The general prosecutor of the Jordanian court for national security said the cell, which started operating over two years ago, was accused of planning terror attacks and possessing explosives, including mortars, RPGs and M-16 rifles.