British trio convicted of 9/11-scale airline bomb plot face life in jail.Byline: Daily Star Staff Summary: <p>Three Britons were jailed for life on Monday for plotting a "terrorist outrage" on the scale of the September 11 attacks September 11 attacks Series of airline hijackings and suicide bombings against U.S. targets perpetrated by 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda. . The trio planned to blow up transatlantic airliners bound for North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. using bombs made from liquid explosives.AaThe suspected Al-Qaeda plot, which British detectives said was just days from being put into operation. Michael HoldenAa ReutersAa Aa LONDON: Three Britons were jailed for life on Monday for plotting a "terrorist outrage" on the scale of the September 11 attacks. The trio planned to blow up transatlantic airliners bound for North America using bombs made from liquid explosives.AaThe suspected Al-Qaeda plot, which British detectives said was just days from being put into operation, had worldwide ramifications ramifications npl → Auswirkungen pl leading to tight restrictions on the amount of liquids passengers could take on board aircraft.Aa Using explosives hidden in soft drink bottles, the bombers intended to destroy at least seven planes --- carrying over 200 passengers each -- in mid-flight between London's Heathrow airport and the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and Canada in August 2006. The trio were arrested that month after the largest counter-terrorism operation ever carried out by British police.Aa "The intention was to perpetrate per·pe·trate tr.v. per·pe·trat·ed, per·pe·trat·ing, per·pe·trates To be responsible for; commit: perpetrate a crime; perpetrate a practical joke. a terrorist outrage that would stand alongside the events of September 11, 2001 in history," Justice Richard Henriques, told a London top security court, saying it was "the most grave and wicked conspiracy ever proven within this jurisdiction."Aa Ringleader ring·lead·er n. A person who leads others, especially in illicit or informal activities. ringleader Noun a person who leads others in illegal or mischievous actions Noun 1. Abdulla Ahmed Ali Ahmed Ali (1910 in New Delhi – 14 January 1994 in Karachi) was a Pakistani novelist, diplomat and scholar, who was responsible for writing arguably the greatest novel ever written about Delhi. , 28, was told he would serve a minimum of 40 years behind bars; Assad Sarwar Assad Sarwar (born May 24 1980) is one of the suspects arrested in the UK in connection to the 2006 transatlantic aircraft terrorist plot in the United Kingdom, and one of the nineteen whose accounts were frozen by the Bank of England. , 29, was jailed for at least 36 years; and Tanvir Hussain Tanvir Hussain (born 21 February 1981) is one of the suspects arrested in the UK in connection to the 2006 transatlantic aircraft terrorist plot in the United Kingdom, and one of the nineteen whose accounts were frozen by the Bank of England. , 28, received a minimum term of 32 years, the Press Association reported.Aa Recorded conversations suggested other terminals and possibly 18 suicide bombers might have been involved, while targets such as gas terminals and oil refineries were mentioned.Aa Police believe the plot was hatched by senior Al-Qaeda figures in Pakistan and Henriques said emails showed there was no doubt that "the ultimate control" lay there.Aa The court was shown martyrdom videos made by some of the men in which they stated the planned attacks were in revenge for US and British interference on Iraqi, Afghan and Palestinian territory.Aa However, Henriques said the plot was not an attempt by Ali to change foreign policy, but "an act of revenge inspired by extremist Islamic thinking." "The extent of harm would have been unprecedented," he added.Aa A fourth man was jailed for at least 22 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to murder.Aa Britain's Director of Public Prosecution said on Friday he would seek a third re-trial after the jury failed to reach a verdict on three other men tried on conspiracy to murder charges. Copyright 2009, The Daily Star. All rights reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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