Tue, Sep 08, 2009
U.K. Court Says Terrorists Planned To Bomb Aircraft Bound For
North America
Three suspected Muslim terrorists
have been found guilty in London's Woolwich Crown Court of plotting
to destroy airliners using explosives smuggled in plastic soda
bottles. When originally uncovered, the plot was responsible for
sweeping new rules governing liquids and gels carried on
airplanes.
Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, Assad Sarwar, 29, and Tanvir Hussain, 28
were found guilty of plotting to down as many as seven airliners
bound for the U.S. and Canada simultaneously. Authorities estimated
had the plot been successful as many as 2000 airline passengers and
crew could have been killed. Britain's Home Secretary Alan Johnson
said the plot would have brought "murder and mayhem on an
unimaginable scale." Others said political ties between London and
Washington could have been strained to the breaking point.
The Associated Press says British
police believe the men were only days away from putting their plan
in motion when they were rounded up in 2006. Hundreds of airliners
were grounded when the plot was revealed, creating chaos in the
international airline system. 25 were originally arrested,
though many were later released without being charged. Of those
charged, four pleaded guilty to lesser crimes, and one was
acquitted.
Prosecutors said the bombers planned to use hydrogen-peroxide
bombs assembled in airplane lavatories to bring down the planes.
Attacks were reportedly planned in two waves in an effort to cause
more widespread panic. British and U.S. security officials
indicated the plot was guided by senior Pakistani Islamic militants
and directly tied to al-Qaida.
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