CASABLANCA, July 12: Death sentences were handed down late Friday to 10 alleged members of a radical Islamic group which is suspected of having been involved in the May 16 suicide attacks here that killed 44 people.

The 31 alleged members of Salafia Jihadia on trial had been arrested ahead of the attacks on various charges including murder.

The Casablanca appeals court, meeting as the court of first instance, also sentenced eight to life in prison. Seven were sentenced to 20 years in jail, five received 10-year terms, and one person received a one-year term.

Their suspected leader Yussef Fikri, who admitted in court of having “killed enemies of God” and has been dubbed the “Emir of Blood” by media, was among those sentenced to death.

Also given the death penalty was Mohamed Damir, considered to have been Fikri’s second in command.

After announcement of the death sentences, shouts of “Allah akbar” (God is great) by the defendants nearly drowned out the reading of the rest of the verdicts.

The death sentences account for nearly all of those accused of murder or attempted murders.

Eleven of those on trial were accused of committing murders in the past two years, including of a Casablaca policeman and notary.

Defense lawyers had complained during the trial of procedural irregularities, imprecise information in police files, and lack of irrefutable proof. Most had called for outright acquittal of their clients, or acquittal due to reasonable doubt.

Defense lawyers have eight days to file appeals.—AFP