This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/27/london-heathrow-airport-suicide-attack-attempt-minh-quang-pham

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Man accused in bomb plot at Heathrow gets 40 years for al-Qaida support Man accused in bomb plot at Heathrow gets 40 years for al-Qaida support
(3 months later)
A Vietnamese-born man who US authorities say was instructed by a top figure with al-Qaida’s Yemen affiliate to carry out a suicide attack at London’s Heathrow airport was sentenced to 40 years in prison.A Vietnamese-born man who US authorities say was instructed by a top figure with al-Qaida’s Yemen affiliate to carry out a suicide attack at London’s Heathrow airport was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Minh Quang Pham, 33, was sentenced by US district judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan after pleading guilty in January to charges he provided material support to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The group has been designated as a terrorist organization by the US and other nations as well as the UN.Minh Quang Pham, 33, was sentenced by US district judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan after pleading guilty in January to charges he provided material support to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The group has been designated as a terrorist organization by the US and other nations as well as the UN.
Related: London man accused of aiding al-Qaida faces life sentence in US after extradition
Nathan cited Pham’s renunciation of the militant group as a reason for not imposing a 50-year term sought by prosecutors. But she said he deserved more than the mandatory minimum 30 years due to his role in the “horrific” bomb plot.Nathan cited Pham’s renunciation of the militant group as a reason for not imposing a 50-year term sought by prosecutors. But she said he deserved more than the mandatory minimum 30 years due to his role in the “horrific” bomb plot.
“Given this, he must face a significantly severe sentence,” she said.“Given this, he must face a significantly severe sentence,” she said.
Pham has admitted he helped prepare the Islamic militant group’s online propaganda magazine, Inspire, and received military-type training after traveling to Yemen in 2010 from his home in the UK.Pham has admitted he helped prepare the Islamic militant group’s online propaganda magazine, Inspire, and received military-type training after traveling to Yemen in 2010 from his home in the UK.
Prosecutors said Pham was also involved in a never-executed plot to construct and detonate an explosive device in the arrival area at Heathrow after returning to the UK from Yemen in July 2011.Prosecutors said Pham was also involved in a never-executed plot to construct and detonate an explosive device in the arrival area at Heathrow after returning to the UK from Yemen in July 2011.
Prosecutors said Pham was trained on how to carry out the suicide attack by Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born Islamic cleric who became a leader in the group. He was killed in a September 2011 US drone attack.Prosecutors said Pham was trained on how to carry out the suicide attack by Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born Islamic cleric who became a leader in the group. He was killed in a September 2011 US drone attack.
Upon his return to the UK, Pham was detained by authorities at Heathrow airport, who discovered various items including a live round of .762 caliber armor-piercing ammunition.Upon his return to the UK, Pham was detained by authorities at Heathrow airport, who discovered various items including a live round of .762 caliber armor-piercing ammunition.
He was arrested in the UK in June 2012 at the request of US authorities and extradited to the United States in February 2015.He was arrested in the UK in June 2012 at the request of US authorities and extradited to the United States in February 2015.
In court papers, Pham’s lawyer, Bobbi Sternheim, rejected prosecutors’ claims that Pham was involved in the alleged Heathrow plot, saying he “never intended to pursue any such plot or engage in any physical violence”.In court papers, Pham’s lawyer, Bobbi Sternheim, rejected prosecutors’ claims that Pham was involved in the alleged Heathrow plot, saying he “never intended to pursue any such plot or engage in any physical violence”.