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| Bomb plot doctor handed life term | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| An NHS doctor from Iraq convicted of plotting to commit mass murder has been sentenced to life in prison. | |
| Bilal Abdulla, 29, was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of conspiracy to murder in huge car bomb attacks in 2007 with accomplice Kafeel Ahmed. | |
| The first attack on 29 June involved failed car bombs outside a nightclub and in a street in London's West End. | |
| A day later a burning Jeep filled with gas canisters was driven into Glasgow Airport. Ahmed died from his injuries. | |
| A third man, Jordanian NHS doctor Mohammed Asha, was cleared of any involvement but now faces deportation. | A third man, Jordanian NHS doctor Mohammed Asha, was cleared of any involvement but now faces deportation. |
| His lawyers say Dr Asha, who remains in custody, will fight to stay in the UK so he can resume his medical career. | His lawyers say Dr Asha, who remains in custody, will fight to stay in the UK so he can resume his medical career. |
| Suicide attack | |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said Abdulla's conviction underlined the "serious and sustained threat" from terrorism facing the UK. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said Abdulla's conviction underlined the "serious and sustained threat" from terrorism facing the UK. |
| The London attacks happened outside Tiger Tiger in Haymarket and in nearby Cockspur Street. Abdulla and Ahmed then launched a suicide attack at Glasgow Airport. | |
| In each case it was good fortune alone that there had been no loss of innocent life, prosecutors said. | |
| He is very disappointed that he is still in custody after being acquitted in one of this country's biggest cases Tayab Ali Mohammed Asha's solicitor | |
| Abdulla was found guilty of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions. | |
| The Iraqi, who was born in the UK, admitted in court that he was "a terrorist" as defined by English law. | The Iraqi, who was born in the UK, admitted in court that he was "a terrorist" as defined by English law. |
| He went on to say he believed the British government and Army could equally be accused of terrorism for their actions in Iraq. | He went on to say he believed the British government and Army could equally be accused of terrorism for their actions in Iraq. |
| But he added he had wanted to frighten people rather than murder them. | But he added he had wanted to frighten people rather than murder them. |
| Bright future | |
| During the nine-week trial, Dr Asha admitted knowing Abdulla and Ahmed but denied any knowledge of their attacks. | During the nine-week trial, Dr Asha admitted knowing Abdulla and Ahmed but denied any knowledge of their attacks. |
| The 28-year-old neurologist, cleared on Tuesday of plotting to murder and cause explosions, is said to be disappointed not to have walked free after his acquittal. | |
| Speaking after the verdicts, solicitor Tayab Ali said of Dr Asha: "He wants to stay in this country and resume his medical career. | Speaking after the verdicts, solicitor Tayab Ali said of Dr Asha: "He wants to stay in this country and resume his medical career. |
| "He is very disappointed that he is still in custody after being acquitted in one of this country's biggest cases." | "He is very disappointed that he is still in custody after being acquitted in one of this country's biggest cases." |
| Jurors heard Mohammed Asha was on course to become a top neurologist | |
| Dr Asha has been served with deportation papers after his highly skilled migrant programme visa expired while he was on remand. | Dr Asha has been served with deportation papers after his highly skilled migrant programme visa expired while he was on remand. |
| At the time of his arrest on 30 June last year on the M6 motorway in Cheshire, Dr Asha had been working for the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, in Stoke-on-Trent. | At the time of his arrest on 30 June last year on the M6 motorway in Cheshire, Dr Asha had been working for the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, in Stoke-on-Trent. |
| He was living in Sunningdale Grove, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, with his wife and two-year-old daughter. | He was living in Sunningdale Grove, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, with his wife and two-year-old daughter. |
| He had been due to go on holiday in Jordan with his family in mid-July last year, before taking up a post in neurosurgery at Coventry's Walsgrave Hospital. | He had been due to go on holiday in Jordan with his family in mid-July last year, before taking up a post in neurosurgery at Coventry's Walsgrave Hospital. |
| Jurors heard Dr Asha was a strictly observant Muslim with a very bright future in neurology. | Jurors heard Dr Asha was a strictly observant Muslim with a very bright future in neurology. |
| One colleague told the court he would not be surprised if Dr Asha became Britain's top neurologist. | |
| Consultant neurosurgeon Rupert Price said he gave Dr Asha a glowing reference, the best he had ever written. | Consultant neurosurgeon Rupert Price said he gave Dr Asha a glowing reference, the best he had ever written. |