Amman, Nov. 4 (Petra) -- The State Security Court on Wednesday began the trial of defendants charged in the Oct. 23 terrorist attack on St. George Martyrs Church in Hmoud, Karak Governorate, with further hearings scheduled.

The trial follows the Public Prosecution Office's completion of its investigation and referral of the case to the court. Prosecutors filed seven charges after hearing witnesses, collecting crime scene evidence and documenting the weapons and ammunition used in the attack.

The charges include nine counts of jointly committing terrorist acts resulting in death, in violation of Article 7(b)(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Law No. 55 of 2006, as amended, with reference to Articles 2 and 7(f) of the same law and Article 76 of the Penal Code No. 16 of 1960, as amended.

The defendants also face two counts of jointly committing terrorist acts using weapons and ammunition, under Article 7(b)(3) of the Anti-Terrorism Law, with reference to Articles 2 and 7(f) of the same law and Article 76 of the Penal Code.

Additional charges include jointly possessing weapons and ammunition with the intent to use them in terrorist acts, under Articles 3(f) and 7(c) of the Anti-Terrorism Law, with reference to Article 7(f) of the same law and Article 76 of the Penal Code.

The defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts using weapons, under Articles 7(g) and 7(i), with reference to Article 2 of the Anti-Terrorism Law.

The remaining charges involve promoting the ideology of a terrorist group, under Articles 3(e) and 7(c), and committing acts likely to disrupt public order and endanger public safety and security, under Articles 2 and 7(i) of the same law.

//Petra// AJ