Teen Acquitted of Terror in Netherlands
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
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ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — A Dutch court on Wednesday acquitted teenager Samir Azzouz (search) of plotting terrorist attacks against Dutch landmarks and ordered his release.
The 18-year-old was sentenced to three months for illegal possession of firearms, but will be released because he has already served 10 months in detention.
Upon hearing the decision, Azzouz, who was dressed in white Islamic garb, looked over his shoulder and smiled at his defense lawyer and at his wife, who was sitting in the public gallery.
He had been in custody since June 2004, when police found detailed maps of Parliament, the Intelligence Service, Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (search) and a nuclear reactor at his home.
At his trial last month, prosecutors called on the three-judge bench to sentence Azzouz to seven years' imprisonment and revoke his voting rights for 12 years.
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