80 months in prison for pipe bomb and serious violence against sister
A half-finished pipe bomb was discovered in the attic of Munther A. in Roeselare. His twin brother Ali A. was suspended for 40 months in prison for the violence. The prosecution had demanded 13 years in prison for both.
According to DOVO (Service for Clearance and Destruction of Explosive Devices) it was indeed possible to finish the pipe bomb in a short time. The federal prosecutor is therefore of the opinion that it was the intention to carry out an attack with the pipe bomb. Munther A. was also in possession of four alarm pistols and a column drill to turn them into real firearms.
Munther A.’s defense tried to put the facts in Antwerp into perspective. “The file is blown up, especially with regard to terrorist activities,” said Master Peter Gonnissen. According to him, the pipe bomb served to train his dog to be a kind of police dog.
Ali A.’s defense did not dispute the blows to their sister and brother-in-law. She did ask for acquittal for all terror crimes. According to Master Lorenzetti, there is no evidence of any sympathy for IS. Ali was not aware of a possible half-finished bomb with his brother.
The court ruled that there was indeed no question of participation in the activities of a terrorist group. Munther A. was found guilty of possession of explosives and preparatory acts for a terrorist attack. After all, according to the judges, that was his only possible intention with the pipe bomb.