Suicide bomber charged over Amman attacks

VEILED and speaking in a low voice, the woman suicide bomber who failed to blow herself up in a Jordanian hotel last year went on trial in Amman yesterday, charged over the attacks that killed 63 people.

Sajida Mubarak al-Rishawi, 35, is charged with the near simultaneous attacks on three hotels in Amman on November 9 in which she, her husband and two other suicide bombers took part. Al-Rishawi’s explosives-belt failed to detonate and she was arrested after fleeing from the scene.

She stood in the state security court dock alone as she is the only one of the eight defendants in custody.

The leading accused in absentia is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaida in Iraq, whom Jordan believes is the mastermind behind the attacks. His group claimed responsibility for the bombings.

The judges adjourned the hearing after five minutes to allow a state lawyer to be appointed to defend al-Rishawi.