Four men have been jailed for plotting explosive attacks at power stations in southern Vietnam as part of their plan to disrupt security.

The People’s Court in Dong Nai Province on Tuesday opened the trial of the four suspects, Doan Viet Hoan, 35, Vo Thuong Trung, 42, Ngo Xuan Thanh, 49, and Nguyen Dinh Khue, 51.

Hoan anh Trung were each sentenced to three years in prison, while Thanh and Khue got two years and six months each for “disrupting security.”

According to the indictment, the defendants would often read Internet contents that go against the regime, incite demonstrations, and stir up disorder.

A Facebook account named ‘Lisa Nguyen,’ whose owner allegedly lives overseas, then contacted the four men and manipulated them into plotting protests and public disorder during the Reunification Day (April 30) holiday this year.

Lisa Nguyen tasked Hoan and Trung with leading “peaceful” and “active” groups of protesters, respectively.

The five also planned attacks using explosives and prepared escape plans in case they had to deal with local authorities in Dong Nai.

Hoan came up with a detailed plan for their plot, and downloaded 12 tutorial videos from the Internet to show other members how to make explosives.

Among the members, Thanh claimed to have experience in using explosives as he had previously participated in several demonstrations.

Meanwhile, Trung suggested that the group buy the explosives from a man in the Central Highlands of Dak Lak.

The men targeted several power stations in Dong Nai’s Bien Hoa City, about 30 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, with the intention of causing fire and large-scale blackouts.

The four men were arrested by police officers on April 25 before they could execute the elaborate scheme on the planned day of attack on April 28.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!