French Islamist Tells Court He Took Part in Somalia Ambush

A French Islamist suspected of heading a militant network told a Belgium court Tuesday that he took part in a deadly ambush against African peacekeeping troops in Somalia.

The retrial of Frenchman Rachid Benomari opened at a time of mounting concern over the number of Europeans believed to be traveling to Syria, Africa and the Afghan-Pakistani border to fight alongside jihadist groups.

"Yes, I fought. I took part in a deadly ambush with al-Shebab forces against AMISOM," the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, that left 30 of them dead, Benomari told the Brussels court.

The presiding judge had first read out to the court similar remarks that Benomari made to Belgian investigators following his extradition from Kenya on March 22.

Benomari was originally sentenced in Belgium in May to 20 years in prison for having led a network to recruit jihadists for Somalia and Syria and of having himself joined al-Qaida-linked al-Shebab militants in Somalia.

But when his trial opened on March 10, the 41-year-old Frenchman was still serving a one-year jail sentence in Kenya for having illegally entered the country.

He was eventually extradited to Belgium on March 22 after having missed the start of his trial and he asked for a retrial, which was granted.

Also granted a retrial were Belgian Mustapha Bouyahbaren and Algerian Mohamed Said, who had also been extradited from Kenya at the same time and who were originally sentenced to five years in prison. 

Benomari is also accused of having persuaded several Belgian Muslims to leave their country to wage jihad in Somalia and Syria in 2011 and 2012.

In the remarks read out Tuesday, he denied having been a member or leader of a terrorist organization.

"I am a fighter to defend Islam, that's all. I belong to no organization," he was quoted as saying by the Belga news agency.

Before the retrial opened, his lawyers said that they would argue that the court did not have the right to hear the case because it was made up only of professional judges.

They insist he should be given a trial by jury, as is the case for violent crimes.