Jordanian suspects appear in court over August attack

AMMAN, Jordan – Fourteen suspected militants have appeared in a Jordanian court to face charges linked to an attack on security forces last August.

They were also charged with conspiring to commit terrorism and manufacturing explosives “for use in terrorist acts.”

Judge Mohammad Afif announced the charges Monday and scheduled a hearing for next week. If convicted, some defendants could face the death penalty.

Lawyer Mousa al-Abdallat says the defendants pleaded not guilty. He says they were tortured during interrogation by intelligence agents.

Last August, assailants bombed a police van that was guarding a music festival in the predominantly Christian town of Fuheis, near the capital, Amman. The blast killed a police officer and prompted a manhunt that led to the deaths of five security officers and three suspected militants.