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'Chilling' plan of bomb plotter 'Chilling' plan of bomb plotter
(19 minutes later)
Details of a "chilling" plan by a Muslim convert to detonate a dirty bomb and attack the London Underground have been outlined in court.Details of a "chilling" plan by a Muslim convert to detonate a dirty bomb and attack the London Underground have been outlined in court.
Dhiren Barot, 34, who has admitted conspiracy to murder, is at Woolwich Crown Court and is due to be sentenced.Dhiren Barot, 34, who has admitted conspiracy to murder, is at Woolwich Crown Court and is due to be sentenced.
Edmond Lawson QC, prosecuting, said Barot prepared meticulous plans for al-Qaeda figures on a series of synchronised attacks in the UK.Edmond Lawson QC, prosecuting, said Barot prepared meticulous plans for al-Qaeda figures on a series of synchronised attacks in the UK.
Barot, a former Hindu from London, is also wanted in the US.Barot, a former Hindu from London, is also wanted in the US.
Authorities there want him over charges of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction in the US and in Yemen.Authorities there want him over charges of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction in the US and in Yemen.
Mr Lawson told the court of the plot in the UK: "The central plan was for the construction and deployment in a basement car park underneath a building of an improvised explosive device using gas cylinders hidden in limousines." Mr Lawson told the court of the Uk plot: "The central plan was for the construction and deployment in a basement car park underneath a building of an improvised explosive device using gas cylinders hidden in limousines."
The gas limos project might be seen as the culmination of Barot's murderous plans Edmund Lawson QCProsecuting href="/1/hi/uk/6121084.stm" class="">Profile: Dhiren Barot href="/1/hi/uk/6122270.stm" class="">Round-up of prosecution case Barot's plans were found in a document called "rough presentation for gas limo project", found on a laptop computer seized during a raid on a house in Gujrat, Pakistan, in July 2004.
The prosecutor has previously told the court a scheme entitled "gas limos project", was uncovered in a document signed by him and found in Pakistan. Mr Lawson told the court significant work was carried out to establish Barot's authorship of the document and this was no longer disputed.
He said the "chilling" document ran to 39 pages.
'Terrorist attacks'
Mr Lawson said: "It is plainly a presentation for the consideration of the al-Qaeda leadership in Pakistan for approval and funding for plans to acquire explosives, hazardous, radioactive, inflammable material for use in co-ordinated terrorist attacks."
We can achieve similar results from a grouping of gas cylinders as we would from a gas tanker Dhiren BarotDefendant's document Profile: Dhiren Barot Round-up of prosecution case
The prosecutor added that the gas limos project appeared to be reasonably far advanced.
Mr Lawson added it was to be launched simultaneously with other attacks, including a dirty bomb, an attack on trains, and the hijacking of petrol tankers to be rammed into a target.
In the document, Barot had written his primary objective of the project was to "inflict mass damage and chaos".
The court heard that Barot had written: "The cylinders are easily available to the general public without requiring illegal activities licences or hijacking.
"We can achieve similar results from a grouping of gas cylinders as we would from a gas tanker."
Barot, from Kingsbury, north-west London, is described by prosecutors as "a member or close associate" of al-Qaeda. He was arrested by armed police in August 2004.Barot, from Kingsbury, north-west London, is described by prosecutors as "a member or close associate" of al-Qaeda. He was arrested by armed police in August 2004.
Mr Lawson previously told the court Barot planned to carry out "massive explosions" in the UK and in the US, the "principal object being to kill hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent people without warning."Mr Lawson previously told the court Barot planned to carry out "massive explosions" in the UK and in the US, the "principal object being to kill hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent people without warning."
The BBC, The Times and the Associated Press news agency successfully challenged a judge's ruling that had threatened to prevent reporting of details from the two-day sentencing hearing.
Judge Neil Butterfield had ruled that publishing details of the hearing could prejudice the trials of seven other men, which are due to take place next year.
The court had earlier heard that by pleading guilty Barot had made no admission with regard to any of his seven co-defendants, who all deny involvement in the plot.The court had earlier heard that by pleading guilty Barot had made no admission with regard to any of his seven co-defendants, who all deny involvement in the plot.
Thames plot claimThames plot claim
Mr Lawson told the court Barot had been planning 9/11-style synchronised attacks in Britain, which could have involved a dirty bomb and a gas attack on the Heathrow Express train service. Mr Lawson has previously told the court Barot also plotted to detonate a bomb under the River Thames to flood the Tube network and potentially drown hundreds of commuters.
He had also plotted to detonate a bomb under the River Thames to flood the Tube network and potentially drown hundreds of commuters, said Mr Lawson.
The prosecution said Barot had written: "Imagine the chaos that would be caused if a powerful explosion were to rip through here [London] and actually rupture the river itself.
Other targets in Britain had included the Savoy Hotel and Waterloo, Paddington and King's Cross train stations, the prosecution has said.Other targets in Britain had included the Savoy Hotel and Waterloo, Paddington and King's Cross train stations, the prosecution has said.
Barot also planned to strike the IMF and the World Bank in Washington DC, the New York Stock Exchange building, the Citigroup headquarters and the Prudential building in Newark, New Jersey.Barot also planned to strike the IMF and the World Bank in Washington DC, the New York Stock Exchange building, the Citigroup headquarters and the Prudential building in Newark, New Jersey.
Barot admired the Madrid train bombings and wrote about creating "another black day for the enemies of Islam and a victory for the Muslims", Mr Lawson said.Barot admired the Madrid train bombings and wrote about creating "another black day for the enemies of Islam and a victory for the Muslims", Mr Lawson said.
His plans for bombings in the US were initiated before the 11 September attacks, then shelved, but worked on as late as February 2004, Mr Lawson maintained. His plans for bombings in the US were initiated before the 11 September attacks, then shelved, but worked on as late as February 2004, Mr Lawson has said.
These US plans were then used in the planning of synchronised attacks in the UK, he added.These US plans were then used in the planning of synchronised attacks in the UK, he added.