Three teenagers on trial for Sikh temple bombing

intern

December 7, 2016 3:08 PM

A priest sustained serious burns in the explosion, while two other people were injured by shards of glass.

A police officer walks in front of the Sikh temple in Essen, western Germany, where an explosion took place at a wedding on April 16.

Three teenagers on Wednesday went on trial in Germany on suspicion of carrying out a bomb attack at a Sikh temple in the western German city of Essen in which three people were injured.

Yusuf T, Mohamed B and Tolga I, whose full names are being withheld in line with German privacy laws, are facing charges of attempted murder; causing serious bodily harm; causing an explosion; and property damage.

They were 16 years old when they allegedly committed the crimes.

On April 16, Yusuf T and Mohamed B were caught on a surveillance camera as they apparently deposited a homemade explosive device outside the Sikh temple.

Prosecutors say the defendants carried out the bomb attack at the temple because they took issue with the treatment of Muslims at the hands of Sikhs in northern India.

However, they considered members of the Sikh faith to be heretics.

The teenage defendants have denied any religious motive.

In their police statements, they claimed they had chosen their target at random.

Report says the trial is taking place behind closed doors because the defendants are minors.

intern