Bombing suspect retracts confession

The alleged perpetrator in the bombing of a Marrakesh cafe on April 28 has retracted his confession and denied any link to the incident. Adil Ottmani told the court yesterday that he had confessed under pressure from the security forces. The bomb, which ripped through a café in Marrakesh’s old town, killed 17 people. Those killed were mainly foreign tourists. 20 others were injured. The session, which lasted nearly five hours, was attended by foreign lawyers for the first time. The judge has adjourned the case until September 29th, a rare move in this type of trial. Ottmani, who spoke in English, told the court that he had “never set foot in Marrakech”. He added that he "had never made the explosives." Ottmani also called for “international protection”, but was forced by the judge to stop speaking. The judge threatened “to put him back in the prison, and finish his trial in absentia.” Ottmani responded to many of the questions asked with: “I do not know” or “I do not remember what happened.” The defendant’s lawyers have requested access to witnesses mentioned in police records, and have asked for a neutral expert to examine the materials used in the bombing. Both requests have been refused by the court.