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Zimbabwe Accuses 4 of Plotting to Bomb Mugabe Farm


FILE - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, August 10, 2015.
FILE - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, August 10, 2015.

Authorities in Zimbabwe are holding four men — including two army officials and an opposition leader — on charges they plotted to bomb a dairy farm owned by President Robert Mugabe.

They are facing charges of "possession of weaponry for sabotage and money laundering for terrorism purposes," police said Tuesday.

According to court records, when the four men — between 29 and 37- years - old — were arrested, petrol bombs and alcohol were among the items found Friday at Mugabe's farm, about 30 kilometers north of Harare.

Police said the suspects confessed to planning to bomb the president's dairy farm.

In Zimbabwe, all the First Family's residences, businesses and properties have 24-hour security.

There was no word on why the men wanted to attack the president's farm.

Mugabe supporters seized hundreds of farms from white owners in the early 2000s under what the government called a "land reform" program to address colonial-era imbalances.

The four suspects, who allegedly held several meetings to raise money and plan the bomb attempt, are scheduled to appear in court Feb. 8.

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