BELFAST, Northern Ireland — A judge has sentenced Protestant militant Michael Stone to 16 years in prison for trying to kill Catholic politicians during a one-man attack on the Northern Ireland Assembly two years ago.

Stone argued that the November 2006 assault was an act of cutting-edge performance art. But he was convicted last month of trying to kill Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness — the leaders of the Irish Republican Army-linked Sinn Fein party.

Stone was carrying an ax, three knives, a strangulation cord, a fake handgun, seven homemade grenades and a small bomb.

Judge Donnell Deeny said Monday he had decided not to give Stone a life sentence because no one was hurt and because Stone has a degenerative muscle wasting disease.

By The Associated Press