Dutch court jails Ikea bombers

Ikea was forced to shut all its Dutch outlets during the bomb scare

A Dutch court has sentenced two Polish men to prison terms for trying to blackmail the Ikea furniture chain.

The judges said they caused serious financial damage by placing bombs outside shops in December 2002, in a bid to extort 250,000 euros ($300,000).

A 25-year-old man was sentenced to seven years in jail and his 57-year-old male accomplice received four years.

The Swedish retailer was forced to close its 10 Dutch outlets while police searched for explosives.

They were prompted by a warning that bombs had been planted in Ikea's shops in Amsterdam and the southern town of Sliedrecht, as well as a third unnamed store.

The letter said the location of the third bomb would only be revealed after Ikea had handed over money.

Two explosives experts were wounded trying to defuse one of the bombs. A third bomb was never found.

"Crimes like this instil anxiety in our society," the judges in Amsterdam said.

"The fear and insecurity felt by the Ikea employees... cannot be overlooked."

The men had denied the charges.