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Second Mistrial Declared in Sears Tower Terror Case

'Enough is enough,' says defense attorney

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 16, 2008 4:11 PM CDT

(Newser) – A federal judge called a second mistrial today in the case of six men who allegedly conspired with al-Qaeda to blow up the Sears Tower. After 13 days of deliberation, the jury was finally released, unconvinced the defendants were serious about terrorism. “Enough is enough,” said the defense lawyer. “It's time to bring this case to a close.”

The defense team had sought to show the six men were only trying to scam money out of a government informant, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. When charges were first brought in 2006, the FBI deemed the accused “more aspirational than operational.” There’s no word yet on whether the case will be tried a third time.

Six of the seven co-defendants that were arrested in June, 2006 in an undercover FBI sting.
Six of the seven co-defendants that were arrested in June, 2006 in an undercover FBI sting.   (AP Photo/Shirley Henderson, File)
The Sears Tower, second from left.
The Sears Tower, second from left.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Terrorism suspect Narseal Batiste is alleged to have been the mastermind behind a plan to enlist al-Qaeda's help in blowing up the Sears Tower in Chicago.
Terrorism suspect Narseal Batiste is alleged to have been the mastermind behind a plan to enlist al-Qaeda's help in blowing up the Sears Tower in Chicago.   (AP Photo)
In this courtroom artist drawing, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Arango, center, makes her closing arguments before Judge Joan Lenard during the so-called  Liberty City Seven trial, Nov. 29, 2007.
In this courtroom artist drawing, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Arango, center, makes her closing arguments before Judge Joan Lenard during the so-called "Liberty City Seven" trial, Nov. 29, 2007.   (AP Photo/Shirley Henderson)
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