Trial opens into foiled attack on IBM
The trial of three people accused of planning an attack on the IBM nanotechnology centre in Rüschlikon, near Zurich, has opened in Bellinzona.
The trio – a Swiss-Italian and two Italians – are accused of planning arson attacks, and of the distribution and sale of unauthorised imported explosives.
They were caught in April 2010 during police road checks in canton Zurich in possession of 476 grams of explosives and other components needed to build an improvised explosive device.
Also found in their car were 31 letters claiming responsibility for the foiled attack on the IBM centre in the name of a group calling itself ELF Switzerland Earth Liberation Front. Known in the United States as eco-terrorists, the group carry out “economic sabotage” to stop the destruction of the environment.
A Swiss intelligence services report said the three people had close links to the eco-terrorist movement, Il Silvestre, which came into existence about ten years ago in Pisa, Italy.
Around 50 protestors of Italian anarchist movements were demonstrating outside the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona on Tuesday.
A verdict is expected on Friday.
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