Amman - Jordan's State Security Court on Monday sentenced three Jordanians to 22 years in jail and hard labour for plotting to attack a church in Amman in May, judicial sources said.

The court initially sentenced each of the three defendants to 45 years in jail and hard labour but decided to reduce the terms to 22 years and six months.

Two defendants, Majed Qatanani, 22, and Ali Abu Arab, 23, were arrested on May 15, but the third suspect, Hamad Soyraki was tried in absentia because he is still at large.

According to the indictment, the three plotted to carry out a "suicidal bombing" at the Greek Catholic church in the suburb of Marka, but the plan was discovered by authorities.

However, the tribunal treated them "as if they had carried out the attack" because their acts "represented a danger to the lives of citizens," judicial sources said.

The verdict can be appealed within 30 days, they added.

Qatanani, who adopted the takfir ideology (treating people as atheists), first came up with the idea of attacking a church in 2007, but dropped his plan due to the intensive security measures adopted at the place, the court said in its ruling. (dpa)