Life term given for bombings

A Syrian man was sentenced to life in prison for his convictions for making circuit boards used to detonate roadside bombs in attacks against U.S. soldiers during the Iraq War.

Authorities say Ahmed Alahmedalabdaloklah made circuit boards that were used to detonate roadside bombs for an insurgent group that claimed responsibility for 230 attacks against American soldiers in Iraq from 2005 to 2010.

The case stemmed from a raid a decade ago at a Baghdad apartment where soldiers discovered a large cache of bomb-making materials, though no explosives were found.

Prosecutors say Alahmedalabdaloklah has shown no remorse for his actions, while defense attorneys complained that co-conspirators haven’t been prosecuted in the case.

U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver says the defendant knew the circuit boards were being used to make bombs.

Several people have tied him to the production of IED components, including one person who said Alahmedalabdaloklah found a factory in China to make the circuit boards after he fled Iraq, authorities said.

Alahmedalabdaloklah was convicted of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction, conspiring to destroy U.S. government property with an explosive, possessing a destructive device in furtherance of a violent crime and conspiring to possess a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence.

He was acquitted on charges of providing support to terrorists and conspiring to commit extraterritorial murder of a U.S. citizen.

Defense attorneys have said Alahmedalabdaloklah never expressed any sentiments against Americans in 12 years of emails that were reviewed by investigators.