FFP questions evidence in terror case
2012-12-21 14:21
Video
2012-12-19 09:12
Four right wing Afrikaans men have been charged with high treason after they allegedly attempted to use explosives to kill ANC leaders and members at Mangaung. Watch.WATCH
Johannesburg - A rightwing party whose
members face treason charges for allegedly plotting to kill President Jacob
Zuma on Friday challenged police claims that they were all caught with illegal
explosives.
Two senior members of the newly-founded Federal Freedom
Party (FFP) were arrested in connection with a plot to assassinate members of
the ANC during the party's conference in Bloemfontein this week.
Police had said Johan Prinsloo and Hein Boonzaaier were
armed when they were arrested along with two other men Mark Trollip and Martin
Keevy.
"According to various sources it would appear that
there were no illegal weapons or explosives found on Hein Boonzaaier," the
FFP said in a statement.
But it conceded that an unlicensed pistol might have been
found on Prinsloo, who is the leader of the party, which wants a separate state
for Afrikaners.
The party urged prosecutors "to look at the legality
of the arrest".
Doubts about the seriousness of the plot were raised when
the police issued conflicting statements about their target, at times refuting
suggestions that the ANC meeting was under threat while at other times
affirming the plot.
Police refused to comment on these issues on Friday.
"Our evidence will be detailed in court. I do not
want to be drawn to claims," said police spokesperson Billy Jones.
The men were on Monday charged with treason and terrorism
and remanded in custody until their next court appearance on 8 January.
Security was tight at the five-day ANC conference that
ended on Thursday, with razor wire thrown up around a perimeter guarded by
armed police.
