Thursday - April 03, 2008

gang of alleged British Muslim fanatics with simultaneous suicide bombing plans.

‘Airline terror plotters wanted heavy casualties’

By Richard Edwards, Gordon Rayner and Duncan Gardham
Last Updated: 4:46pm BST 03/04/2008

A gang of alleged British Muslim fanatics plotted to cause “carnage on an almost unprecedented scale” with simultaneous suicide bombings on up to 18 transatlantic airliners, a court has heard.

Bombs made from hydrogen peroxide liquid explosives, and disguised as soft drinks including Lucozade and Oasis, were to be taken on board and detonated mid-flight, causing thousands of deaths “in the name of Islam”, it is alleged.

If the alleged plan had been carried out, it could have led to the worst terrorist atrocity since the attacks on the US on September 11, 2001.

It was as a result of the alleged plot being uncovered 18 months ago that authorities tightened security at airports in the UK, banning people carrying liquids on to planes.

The long awaited trial started today amid high security at Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London.

Jurors were told that the accused were only interested in one way flights from Heathrow airport and possible target cities included New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, Miami and San Francisco, as well as Montreal and Toronto in Canada.

The seven flights were: 1415 United Airlines Flight 931 to San Francisco; 1500 Air Canada Flight 849 to Toronto; 1515 Air Canada Flight 865 to Montreal; 1540 United Airlines Flight 959 to Chicago; 1620 United Airlines Flight 925 to Washington; 1635 American Airlines Flight 139 to New York and 1650 American Airlines Flight 91 to Chicago.

They aimed to inflict “heavy casualties” on an “unwitting civilian population”, jurors were told.
The result would have had a “violent and deadly, global impact”, the court heard.

Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, in his opening speech, said that the men had planned to smuggle liquid explosives - disguised in drinks bottles - aboard selected flights in the summer of 2006.

The men and others were prepared to board the aircraft carrying their “deadly cargo” and detonate it in flight, he said.

“They are men with the cold-eyed certainty of the fanatic, prepared to board an aircraft with the ingredients to construct and detonate a device to bring about the loss not only of their own life but all those around them.”

Mr Wright claimed the alleged plot was foiled when police arrested two men in east London in August, 2006.

“The disaster they contemplated was not long off,” he said.

The court was told that intelligence suggested the alleged plotters may have recruited as many as 18 suicide bombers, who would have set off on flights from several Heathrow terminals at once.

Mr Wright said that police recovered a computer memory stick belonging to one suspect which contained detailed information about flights and airport security.

He told jurors that the plotters were not interested in return flights to the UK.

“The memory stick contained details in respect of flight timetables, baggage information, security advice in respect of restricted items and other information about Heathrow airport.”

The jury was shown files on the memory stick giving details of flights from Heathrow to cities in North America.

The information included the airline, terminal at Heathrow, departure times, arrival times, flight numbers, aircraft type and number of stops, the court heard.

The jury heard that information on the memory stick focused only on one-way flights leaving Heathrow between August 2006 and August 2007.

Mr Wright said: “When one examined what was found on this particular memory stick certain features became apparent.

“It seems those interested in the fruits of this research appeared merely interested in a one-way flight.

“They did not appear to show any similar interest in flying back to the UK on a return flight.”

He claimed the computer memory stick suggested the alleged conspirators targeted seven flights flown by American Airlines, United Airlines and Air Canada, all of which would have been simultaneously blown up after leaving Heathrow’s Terminal 3.

They allegedly intended to attack seven aircraft taking off in a 2hr 35min period between 14.15 and 16.50.

Eight men deny two charges linked to the alleged plot in 2006.

The first charge alleges that the men conspired to murder between January 1 and August 11, 2006.

The second charge alleges that the men conspired to commit an act of violence likely to endanger the safety of an aircraft between the same dates.

http://tinyurl.com/38rm9q

Posted by Drew458     on 04/03/2008 at 11:16 AM   
Filed Under: • RoPMA • Terrorists •  
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