German Trial Starts for Accused US Airmen Shooter

Posted August 31st, 2011 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
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A 21-year old Kosovo man goes on trial in Frankfurt, Germany Wednesday for allegedly killing two U.S. Air Force personnel earlier this year.

German prosecutors charged Arid Uka with two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder for the March 2 attack at Frankfurt airport. Uka was employed at the airport at the time of the attack.

Prosecutors say Uka was motivated by Islamist websites calling for jihad against U.S. military forces. They say the day before the attack, Uka watched a video he believed showed U.S. soldiers raiding a home in Afghanistan and raping an Afghan girl.

U.S. federal prosecutors have also filed murder charges against Uka. They say he chanted “God is great” in Arabic and kept shooting until his gun would not fire any more.

U.S. officials believe he acted alone and was not a part of any terrorist group.

If found guilty Uka faces a possible life sentence. A verdict in the trial is not expected until early 2012.