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Airline plot trio get life terms Airline plot trio get life terms
(10 minutes later)
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.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, was jailed for at least 40 years at Woolwich Crown Court.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, must serve at least 32 years in jail.Plot "quartermaster" Assad Sarwar, 29, was jailed for at least 36 years, while Tanvir Hussain, 28, must serve at least 32 years in jail.
Their aim was a terrorist outrage to "stand alongside" 9/11, the judge said.Their aim was a terrorist outrage to "stand alongside" 9/11, the judge said.
Mr Justice Henriques called the plot "the most grave and wicked conspiracy ever proven within this jurisdiction".Mr Justice Henriques called the plot "the most grave and wicked conspiracy ever proven within this jurisdiction".
"The intention was to perpetrate a terrorist outrage that would stand alongside the events of September 11, 2001 in history," he said."The intention was to perpetrate a terrorist outrage that would stand alongside the events of September 11, 2001 in history," he said.
The trial heard that at the time of his arrest, Ahmed Ali, of Walthamstow, east London, had identified seven US and Canada-bound flights that were to be attacked within a two-and-a-half-hour period.The trial heard that at the time of his arrest, Ahmed Ali, of Walthamstow, east London, had identified seven US and Canada-bound flights that were to be attacked within a two-and-a-half-hour period.
Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs reporter ANALYSIS Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs reporter
Judges follow Court of Appeal sentencing guidelines for terrorism offences. But in the case of the three airline bomb plotters, Mr Justice Henriques said the "quite exceptional" nature of their "grave and wicked" plan meant he would jail them for longer than other men found guilty of conspiracy.Judges follow Court of Appeal sentencing guidelines for terrorism offences. But in the case of the three airline bomb plotters, Mr Justice Henriques said the "quite exceptional" nature of their "grave and wicked" plan meant he would jail them for longer than other men found guilty of conspiracy.
Abdulla Ahmed Ali's minimum term of 40 years is the same term as that now being served by the men convicted of the failed London suicide attacks of 21 July 2005. They had taken the final step in their plot, but the judge said Ali's plan was, in fact, more likely to have succeeded.Abdulla Ahmed Ali's minimum term of 40 years is the same term as that now being served by the men convicted of the failed London suicide attacks of 21 July 2005. They had taken the final step in their plot, but the judge said Ali's plan was, in fact, more likely to have succeeded.
Ahmed Ali had sparred with the prosecution when he gave evidence - and during the judge's sentencing, he angrily shook his head several times. He wanted to die in a "blessed operation" comparable to 9/11 - but he may eventually die an old man, in a prison cell.Ahmed Ali had sparred with the prosecution when he gave evidence - and during the judge's sentencing, he angrily shook his head several times. He wanted to die in a "blessed operation" comparable to 9/11 - but he may eventually die an old man, in a prison cell.
The judge said that the plot had "reached an advanced stage in its development", with the men in possession of enough chemicals to produce 20 detonators.The judge said that the plot had "reached an advanced stage in its development", with the men in possession of enough chemicals to produce 20 detonators.
"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," 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," he said.
"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.""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 convicted men displayed no emotion at their sentences, although Ahmed Ali shook his head and appeared angry and frustrated at earlier sentencing remarks from the judge.The convicted men displayed no emotion at their sentences, although Ahmed Ali shook his head and appeared angry and frustrated at earlier sentencing remarks from the judge.
"With this plot you sought the attention of the world and now you have it," Mr Justice Henriques told him."With this plot you sought the attention of the world and now you have it," Mr Justice Henriques told him.
"You have embraced Islamic extremism and it is that burning extremism that has motivated you throughout this conspiracy and is likely to drive you again.""You have embraced Islamic extremism and it is that burning extremism that has motivated you throughout this conspiracy and is likely to drive you again."
E-mails submitted as evidence in the trial had shown that "the ultimate control of this conspiracy lay in Pakistan", the judge said.E-mails submitted as evidence in the trial had shown that "the ultimate control of this conspiracy lay in Pakistan", the judge said.
Ahmed Ali, Sarwar, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and Hussain, from Leyton, east London, had been "high-level executives within this country".Ahmed Ali, Sarwar, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and Hussain, from Leyton, east London, had been "high-level executives within this country".
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.