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11 charged for `plot' under Britain's terror laws

Hasan Suroor

Scale of investigations `immense' and it will take months to sift through material, says Metropolitan Police official

LONDON: Eleven of the 23 people, arrested in connection with the alleged terror plot to blow up American planes, were on Monday charged under Britain's terror laws.

One woman was released without any charge and 11 others remained in police custody for further questioning.While eight were charged with conspiracy to murder and preparing acts of terrorism, two faced prosecution for failing to disclose information relating to the alleged plot - and one of possessing articles that might have helped those plotting the alleged attacks. Those who were charged with conspiracy to murder and with preparing acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act, 2006 were identified as Ahmed Abdullah Ali, Tanvir Hussain, Umar Islam, Arafat Waheed Khan, Assad Ali Sarwar, Adam Khatib, Ibrahim Savant and Waheed Zaman.

The two accused of withholding information that "might be of material assistance" in preventing an act of terrorism were Cossar Ali and Mehran Hussain.

A 17-year-old youth, whose name was not given, was accused of possessing documents and other articles likely to be "useful" to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

Police cautioned against media reporting that might prejudice their trial emphasising that at this stage these people were only accused. Most of the 23 people were arrested on August 9 and 10 following the discovery of a plot to blow up as many as upto 10 America-bound flights originating from United Kingdom, using liquid explosives. A large number of the accused are British nationals of Pakistani origin, and one is the son of an Indian immigrant. Two men, one of West Indian origin and another white Briton, converted to Islam recently. Peter Clarke, deputy assistant commissioner of Metropolitan Police, said that bomb-making material, "martyrdom videos" and a number of other items with possible links to the alleged plot had been found during investigations, which included extensive searches of business and residential properties. He described the scale of the investigations as "immense" and said it would take months to sift through the material that had been found.

Mr. Clarke said that the threat of terrorism remained "real" and there was no room for complacency. "I would like to reassure the public that we are doing everything we can to keep you safe so that you can live your lives without being in constant fear. The threat from terrorism is real. It is here, it is deadly and it is enduring. As we all look for explanations, we cannot afford to be complacent and ignore the reality of what we face," he said.

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