Bomb Trial Begins in Dresden

One year after the discovery of a suitcase bomb in Dresden's central railway station, 63-year-old Ulrich Vogel sat on the dock Wednesday in the first day of his trial on multiple counts of extortion, violations of German weapons and explosive materials laws and attempted murder. Vogel confessed earlier to planting the bomb but has rejected accusations that he intended to kill passengers at the crowded station. On June 6, 2003, Vogel allegedly planted a live suitcase bomb in the station. Prosecutors say he wanted to increase the pressure against a local bank he was seeking to extort. Vogel demanded the bank initiate a contest in a local newspaper with himself and a select few chosen by him as the designated winners, with prizes totaling somewhere between €50 million and €112 million, investigators said. Hundreds of passengers could have been killed by the device, but a technical defect kept it from detonating. If convicted, Vogel could face a prison sentence of five years to life.