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Jordan applauds capture of would-be bomber
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-14 20:52
Hers wasn't the first televised confession by terror suspects detained by
Jordanian police. In April 2004, at least four Jordanian and Syrian militants
linked to al-Zarqawi detailed their plot to launch chemical bomb attacks in
Amman, particularly against the General Intelligence Department.
In her television appearance, al-Rishawi opened her dark fur-collared
body-length overcoat to reveal two crude explosives belts — one packed with RDX
and the other ball-bearings. They were strapped to her waist front and back with
a thick binding of silver tape.
"It was scary to see her with her bomb but at least we know who she is and
she can be punished," said Anwar Nazih, a 15-year-old schoolgirl.
Many Jordanians, however, expressed doubt al-Rishawi's confession was real or
that she was even involved in the plot.
"I don't buy it. There are many contradictions, and it just doesn't make
sense," said Mohammed al-Fakhiri, a 33-year-old mobile telephone shop owner in
the Jordanian, capital, Amman.
"The first thing she would have done is get rid of her explosive belt,"
al-Fakhiri said. "So how come she was caught with it."
He also said al-Rishawi claimed that her husband had detonated his explosives
apparently before she fled.
"So how come she wasn't wounded?"
Jordanian Deputy Premier Marwan Muasher told reporters Sunday that her
husband noticed she was having problems detonating her bomb and pushed her out
of the wedding ballroom before blowing himself up.
Al-Rishawi said her husband exploded his belt and she couldn't detonate hers.
But it wasn't clear from her comments whether her husband blew himself up before
her bomb malfunctioned of after.
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