Police attackers’ plea hearing adjourned

The High Appeals Court has adjourned yesterday the hearing in the appeals of 144 convicted of attacking police officers, who were tasked to disperse an illegal gathering outside the house of infamous Shi’ite cleric Isa Qassim, to hear the closing arguments. Tribune earlier reported about demonstrators staging a sit-in, carrying weapons and grenades, quoting police officers.

“One of the defendants who we arrested guided us to a cache, where a lot of weapons, grenades as well as firebombs were stored,” the officer said. “They were meant to be used to attack police officers and disrupt the public order,” they added.

“Rocks, bricks, and metal rods, as well as firebombs, were used in attacking police from Qassim’s home, while officers were trying to arrest terrorists hiding at the site of the illegal protest.” The police officer who testified before the High Criminal Court said that all the protesters attacked them while they were attempting to restore order in Diraz. Five outlaws were killed and 31 policemen were injured during the operation.