David Byers: 'Plot to blow up planes using bottles'

EIGHT Islamist terrorists with the "cold-eyed certainty" of fanatics plotted to blow up several transatlantic planes in mid-air in what would have brought about a death toll of "almost unimaginable scale", a London court was told. The alleged suicide mission, “in the name of Islam”, would have involved the suspects boarding seven flights leaving London for the US and Canada with explosives disguised as soft drinks.

The arrest of the eight prompted tough limits on liquids in hand baggage on planes. Once on board, homemade bombs would explode on each aircraft, killing all the passengers and causing casualties on an “almost unprecedented” scale. Peter Wright, QC, for the prosecution, said: “What these men intended to bring about was a violent and deadly statement of intent that would have truly global impact.”

He said the plot had been foiled when two of the suspects, Abdullah Ali and Assad Sarwar, were arrested on the night of August 9, 2006, as they were meeting in Walthamstow, East London. Officers swooped on Mr Ali as he met Mr Sarwar in a public car park. In his pocket they found a computer memory stick containing details of one-way flights from Heathrow, the court was told.
Seven scheduled flights on three carriers - Air Canada, United Airlines and American Airlines - departing from Terminal 3 were highlighted. The destinations were San Francisco, Toronto, Montreal, Washington, New York and two services to Chicago.