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Airline plot trio get life terms Airline plot trio get life terms
(20 minutes later)
Three men who plotted to blow up transatlantic flights with liquid bombs have received life sentences, with minimum terms of 32 to 40 years. Three men who plotted to blow up flights from Heathrow to the US with liquid bombs have been jailed for life, with minimum terms of up to 40 years.
Ringleader Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, will serve a minimum of 40 years in jail. Ringleader Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, was jailed for at least 40 years at Woolwich Crown Court.
Plot "quartermaster" Assad Sarwar, 29, was jailed for at least 36 years, while Tanvir Hussain, 28, received at least 32 years' jail at Woolwich Crown Court. Plot "quartermaster" Assad Sarwar, 29, was jailed for at least 36 years, while Tanvir Hussain, 28, must serve at least 32 years in jail.
The judge said the men were guilty of "the most grave and wicked conspiracy ever proven within this jurisdiction". Their aim was a terrorist outrage to "stand alongside" 9/11, the judge said.
"The intention was to perpetrate a terrorist outrage that would stand alongside the events of September 11, 2001 in history," said Mr Justice Henriques. Mr Justice Henriques called the plot "the most grave and wicked conspiracy ever proven within this jurisdiction".
"I'm satisfied that there is every likelihood that this plot would have succeeded but for the intervention of the police and the security service." "The intention was to perpetrate a terrorist outrage that would stand alongside the events of September 11, 2001 in history," he said.
"I'm satisfied that there is every likelihood that this plot would have succeeded but for the intervention of the police and the security service.
"Had this conspiracy not been interrupted, a massive loss of life would almost certainly have resulted - and if the detonation was over land, the number of victims would have been even greater still."
The trial heard that at the time of his arrest, Ahmed Ali had identified seven US and Canada-bound flights that were to be attacked within a two-and-a-half-hour period.
No emotion
The convicted men displayed no emotion at their sentences, although Ahmed Ali shook his head and appeared angry and frustrated at earlier remarks from the judge.
Mr Justice Henriques told him: "With this plot you sought the attention of the world and now you have it."
A fourth man, Umar Islam, 31, convicted of a more general conspiracy to murder charge, has been given a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 22 years in prison.A fourth man, Umar Islam, 31, convicted of a more general conspiracy to murder charge, has been given a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 22 years in prison.
The men's arrests in 2006 caused chaos to the global aviation industry and prompted continuing restrictions to the amount of liquids passengers can take on to aircraft.The men's arrests in 2006 caused chaos to the global aviation industry and prompted continuing restrictions to the amount of liquids passengers can take on to aircraft.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, is seeking a retrial of three other men for conspiracy to murder, after the jury failed to reach a verdict on this charge against them.The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, is seeking a retrial of three other men for conspiracy to murder, after the jury failed to reach a verdict on this charge against them.
A legal hearing on 5 October will decide whether Ibrahim Savant, 28, Arafat Khan, 28, and Waheed Zaman, 25, will face another trial.A legal hearing on 5 October will decide whether Ibrahim Savant, 28, Arafat Khan, 28, and Waheed Zaman, 25, will face another trial.