Posted on 04/03/2008 2:37:48 PM PDT by Mount Athos
A British terror gang plotted to use liquid explosives to blow up transatlantic passenger jets in mid-flight, a court heard today.
Eight men planned to smuggle bombs disguised as soft drinks on to flights from Heathrow to the United States and Canada and detonate them on board, Woolwich crown court was told.
It would have caused a civilian death toll on an "almost unprecedented scale" and a "global impact".
The gang allegedly targeted seven flights operated by Air Canada, United Airlines and American Airlines.
They were arrested in August 2006 after a surveillance operation — as they were "almost ready" to strike.
Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said they had planned, "all in the name of Islam", to carry out a "series of coordinated and deadly explosions" and were "indifferent to the carnage" that would have been caused.
The eight — seven from London — were flanked by security guards at the start of what has been described as the world's biggest terror trial. All deny conspiracy to murder and conspiring to commit an act of violence likely to endanger the safety of an aircraft.
They are: Abdulla Ahmed Ali, Assad Sarwar, Tanvir Hussain, and Ibrahim Savant — all aged 27; Mohammed Gulzar and Arafat Waheed Khan, 26; Waheed Zaman, 23, and Umar Islam, also known as Brian Young, 29.
Mr Wright named the ringleaders as Ali, Sarwar and Gulzar and said Ali was one of those prepared to blow themselves up on a jet.
However, during conversations monitored by police the conspirators talked about as many as 18 suicide bombers at different airport terminals.
"At the very least" seven planes would have been targeted, Mr Wright said.
The jury heard that the gang planned to smuggle components of the homemade bombs on to the flights as "innocuous hand luggage".
The court heard the bombers intended to use hydrogen peroxide and mix it with a product called Tang, used in soft drinks, to turn it into an explosive.
They intended to carry it on board disguised as 500ml bottles of Oasis or Lucozade by using food dye to recreate the drinks' distinctive colour.
The detonator would have been disguised as AA 1.5 batteries. The contents of the batteries would have been removed and an electric element such as a lightbulb or wiring would have been inserted.
A disposable camera would have provided a power source.
"These items would have the capability of being detonated with devastating consequences," said Mr Wright.
An address book found in Ali's pocket had a "to-do list with items such as electrics for batteries, drink bottles including Lucozade and Oasis; an entry saying "check time to fill each bottle".
All the seven flights allegedly targeted could carry between 241 and 285 passengers.
They were to cities including Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Washington, JFK in New York and Montreal.
The gang compiled information on flights and a USB memory stick found in the pocket of one defendant included details of flights from Heathrow to the US, Mr Wright said.
But he said the gang only examined details of outward-bound flights — they were not interested in return trips.
The seven flights would all have been in the air at the same time, he added: "The flights were particularly vulnerable to a co-ordinated attack while in flight. If each was blown up the potential for loss of life was considerable and there was little of no chance of saving any of them from their impending disaster."
At the time of their arrests they were "almost ready" to put their plan into action and some were prepared to lose their lives with "the cold eyed certainty of a fanatic".
The arrests in the summer of 2006 led to a huge security crackdown at British airports, with bans on passengers taking liquids on planes.
Ahmed Ali, Waheed Khan, and Zaman are from Walthamstow; Sarwar is from High Wycombe; Hussain is from Leyton, Gulzar from Barking; Savant from Stoke Newington; and Islam from Plaistow.
The trial was adjourned to tomorrow.
AND OBAMA AND THE REST OF THESE LIBERAL SKUNKS WANT TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH THEM! THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE!
Is there any further evidence needed about what Islam is, what it does to its adherents or from where it originated? Jesus said, "by their fruits you shall know them." The fruits of the followers of Islam, right here on display...the religion of Satan and his fallen angels.
Gee makes me glad I flew in and out of Gatwick. The U.K. and all Western nations have a real problem. However we have been PC’d to death and I mean that literally.
I’m not surprised. Fully expect them to take to the skies again.
Wow, let’s see. they all look Amish to me, or maybe just Christians of some kind, no muslims in the group, right? Our politicos are all idiots, not to mention British officials.
and to think that the American people elect the likes of pelosi and crew who want to restrict the patriot act. They also need to be on trial for treason.
Why did it take this long to go to trial?
What nimrod editor let that one slop through? Kids across the world are getting ready to try this on their own.
My son was with his high school drama troupe in Scotland and was due to fly home from Heathrow to SFO 3 days after these guys were arrested. We all had a horrific couple of days waiting until they walked through the gates at SFO with their single ziploc bag with their passports in it.
What a dreadful time!
God, these mousselmanoi look evil!
Oh those wacky Amish
Oops, they’re mooselimbs - sorry about that
There is not enough information there for this to be a problem.
Going to the store, buyying a bottle of peroxide from the Personal Care section and some Tang and mixing it won’t give you an explosive.
I don’t see no grannies or blond kids - wow, I must be profiling!
Wow. They all look like they rode the short bus.
They hate the West.Br>Why let more of them in here ?
Egad, they are always so fu***ng ugly as they glare through those hate-filled eyes. We in the West do not deserve better when we allow them into the country. I guess these crazies do not belong to that “PEACEFUL majority” that our politicians always refer to.
As for being "from" Walthamstow, High Wycombe, Leyton, Stoke Newington, et al. -- these scumfiends are from the vilest pit of Satan's hell. Send them back NOW.
Guy in the top right needs to be waterboarded, and given a 147 grain .308 injection to the base of the skull.
Addition through subtraction.
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