American Victims of 2005 Amman Hotel Bombings Seek Justice From Syria

PORTLAND, Maine, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Portland attorney Ron Jenkins, of Meridian 361 International Law Group, PLLC, a boutique international law firm with its principal office in Portland, Maine, has sued the Syrian Arab Republic and Syrian Military Intelligence for their roles in the simultaneous terrorist bombings of the Radisson SAS, Grand Hyatt and Days Inn hotels in Amman, Jordan on November 9, 2005. 

The Complaint, filed yesterday in federal district court in Washington, D.C., alleges that Syria provided material support and resources to Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the terrorist organization led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, enabling him to carry out the horrific bombings in what has become known as "Jordan's 9-11."  More than 60 people were killed in the hotel bombings, and more than 300 injured.  The Complaint demands substantial money damages on behalf of the Americans victimized in the attack, among them an 8 year-old schoolgirl who lost her life.  The United States placed a bounty of $25 million on Zarqawi's head prior to his death in 2006, the same bounty that it offered for Osama bin Laden.

This is the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by Mr. Jenkins on behalf of American victims of terrorism.  In April of last year, he sued Syria and its dictatorial ruler Bashar al-Assad for their roles in Zarqawi's assassination of U.S. diplomat Laurence Foley in Amman, Jordan in 2002, and for the kidnapping, torturing and public executions of U.S. servicemen in Iraq.   He successfully represented the American victims of the December 1985 airport massacres in Rome, Italy and Vienna, Austria, in a lawsuit against Libya and Libyan ruler Muammar Qaddafi for their support of the Abu Nidal terrorist organization, which carried out the massacres.  His litigation against Syria arising from the same attack is still pending.  Mr. Jenkins also successfully represented the bankruptcy trustee of Pan American Airways, Inc. and a Lloyds insurance syndicate in their claims against Libya and Qaddafi for their direct roles in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988. 

"Litigation against the State sponsors of terrorist organizations and terrorist attacks is an important part of the struggle against international terrorism," Jenkins said.  "Without the safe haven, equipment, financial resources and travel mobility provided by State sponsors, terrorist organizations cannot operate as effectively."  Syria has been included on the official list of State sponsors of terrorism maintained by the U.S. State Department longer than any other State.    

Contact:  F. R. Jenkins, Esq., Tel. 1-866-338-7087, [email protected]

SOURCE Meridian 361 International Law Group, PLLC