Virtual Enforcement Court streamlines 400000 applications for enforcement in 2024    7th batch of 360 female recruits graduated    Saudi Arabia tops G20 countries in Safety Index    GASTAT: Industrial Production Index records an increase of 2.1% in December 2024    Saudi Arabia contributes to preparing first international report on AI safety    Investments of over $7.5bn announced on second day of LEAP 2025    Ed Sheeran stopped from busking in Bengaluru by Indian police    Indian security forces kill 31 Maoist rebels    Bodies of migrants found in Libya mass grave, authorities say    Olaf Scholz says EU can act 'in an hour' if Donald Trump imposes tariffs on bloc    Eagles win Super Bowl LIX to end the Chiefs' dream of a three-peat    Trump says he will announce raft of new trade tariffs    Chinese film stirs national pride, rakes in $1bn in days    Cold weather continues hitting most Saudi regions as Turaif records lowest temperature with minus 2°C    Saudi, Ukrainian FMs discuss Ukrainian-Russian crisis in phone call    Trump rules out deporting Prince Harry, cites marital troubles as reason for leniency    Sharifa Al-Sudairi makes historic debut at Asian Winter Games    Al Nassr reclaims third place with 3-0 victory over Al Fayha as Jhon Durán shines    Ivan Toney's brace secures Al Ahli victory over Al Fateh in Saudi Pro League    Salvador Dalí art comes to India for the first time    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



3 British men guilty of airline bomb plot
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 08 - 09 - 2009

Three Britons were found guilty Monday of plotting to kill thousands by blowing up transatlantic airliners bound for North America in mid-flight suicide attacks using bombs made from liquid explosives.
The suspected Al-Qaeda plot, just days from being put into operation according to British detectives, had huge worldwide ramifications leading to tight restrictions on the amount of liquids passengers could take on board aircraft.
Four other men were found not guilty of the plot and the jury failed to reach a verdict in the case of an eighth suspect, Britain's Press Association reported.
The bombers intended to simultaneously destroy at least seven planes carrying over 200 passengers each between London's Heathrow airport and the United States and Canada in August 2006 using explosives hidden in soft drink bottles, prosecutors said.
The conspirators were caught before they could put their plan into action following the largest counter-terrorism operation ever carried out by British police.
London police chief Paul Stephenson said at the time the men's intent was to cause “mass murder on an unimaginable scale”, while a senior British police source said they could have killed thousands on board and more people if they had detonated the bombs over land.
US officials have said the carnage would have been as horrific as the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington that killed 3,000 people and had huge repercussions for the aviation industry.
Prosecutors said the plot centred on seven flights from Heathrow's Terminal 3, each capable of carrying between 241 and 285 passengers.
But recorded conversations between some of the men, British Muslims, suggested other terminals and possibly 18 suicide bombers might have been involved, while targets such as gas terminals and oil refineries were mentioned.
The plot was hatched in Pakistan just months before the men were arrested in August 2006. Police suspect that Al-Qaeda planner, Egyptian Abu Obaidah Al-Masri, who some media reports have cited as the inspiration for the deadly July 7, 2005 suicide bombings in London, was the mastermind.
The British ringleader was Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, while Assad Sarwar, 29, gathered the bomb ingredients at his home in High Wycombe, a town west of the capital.
At a previous trial last year, Ali, Sarwar and Tanvir Hussain, 28, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder but the jury failed to agree on whether they had intended to blow up planes.
No verdict was reached against Umar Islam, 31, although he was convicted of conspiracy to murder.
The court heard that six of the men recorded martyrdom videos, in which they sat in front of a black flag inscribed with white Arabic writing, stating the planned attacks were in revenge for US and British interference in Iraqi, Afghan and Palestinian territory.
In their defence the men claimed the plot was just a stunt.
They said they had intended to set off a small device at Heathrow's Terminal 3, which is used by US airlines, to cause chaos and to promote a documentary video criticising British and US foreign policy to be aired possibly on the website YouTube.
Ali said they had not intended to kill anyone but wanted to do something that would be considered serious and credible.
The guilty men will be sentenced next Monday.


Clic here to read the story from its source.