Scott
09-15-2009, 10:31 AM
Not sure if this is the right Place to post this??
THREE British Muslims were jailed for 108 years yesterday for plotting seven Lockerbie-style suicide attacks on passenger jets.
Ringleader Abdullah Ahmed Ali, 28, was told he would remain behind bars for at least 40 years as they all got life sentences.
Henchman Assa Sarwar, 29, the gang's quartermaster, was ordered to serve at least 36 years. Tanvir Hussain, 28, a key lieutenant, will stay in prison for at least 32 years.
The gang - convicted last week of conspiracy to murder - intended using bottles filled with liquid hydrogen peroxide explosive to mount the worst terror attack since 9/11.
Sentencing the men, judge Mr Justice Richard Henriques said: "This was 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.
"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 plot, aimed at destroying seven flights heading from London to the US and Canada, could have claimed 5,000 lives.
A fourth man, Muslim convert Umar Islam, 30, was also jailed for life for conspiracy to murder and must serve at least 22 years.
Mr Justice Henriques told Ali, of Walthamstow, East London: "You are a driven and determined extremist with an ambition to lead a terrorist outrage of boundless proportion.
"By this conspiracy you sought the attention of the world, and you now have it."
Mr Justice Henriques recalled the six videotaped tirades of hatred that had been recorded during the conspiracy.
He told Ali at Woolwich Crown Court: "You made it clear that innocent people were going to die - men, women and children. The extent of harm would have been unprecedented."
Sarwar, of High Wycombe, Bucks, was the gang's quartermaster and its chemist.
Mr Justice Henriques told him: "You were a vital and leading member of this conspiracy, albeit I accept not its leader. You were a student of Jihad and of martyrdom."
Horror ... carnage bombs would have caused
Horror ... carnage bombs would have caused
The judge told Ali's schoolfriend Hussain: "You were Ali's right-hand man, you modified bottles, batteries and bulbs.
"There is no evidence that you were a religious fanatic. Your involvement seems to be entirely attributable to your long-term commitment to Ali."
Islam, also from High Wycombe, was told by Mr Justice Henriques that he had decided he had been kept in the dark about the conspiracy's ultimate target.
A retrial is being sought by the Director of Public Prosecutions for three of the men's co-defendants, accused of conspiracy to murder. An eighth man was cleared.
The gang were convicted after two six-month trials costing an estimated £100million.
[Source- The Sun]
THREE British Muslims were jailed for 108 years yesterday for plotting seven Lockerbie-style suicide attacks on passenger jets.
Ringleader Abdullah Ahmed Ali, 28, was told he would remain behind bars for at least 40 years as they all got life sentences.
Henchman Assa Sarwar, 29, the gang's quartermaster, was ordered to serve at least 36 years. Tanvir Hussain, 28, a key lieutenant, will stay in prison for at least 32 years.
The gang - convicted last week of conspiracy to murder - intended using bottles filled with liquid hydrogen peroxide explosive to mount the worst terror attack since 9/11.
Sentencing the men, judge Mr Justice Richard Henriques said: "This was 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.
"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 plot, aimed at destroying seven flights heading from London to the US and Canada, could have claimed 5,000 lives.
A fourth man, Muslim convert Umar Islam, 30, was also jailed for life for conspiracy to murder and must serve at least 22 years.
Mr Justice Henriques told Ali, of Walthamstow, East London: "You are a driven and determined extremist with an ambition to lead a terrorist outrage of boundless proportion.
"By this conspiracy you sought the attention of the world, and you now have it."
Mr Justice Henriques recalled the six videotaped tirades of hatred that had been recorded during the conspiracy.
He told Ali at Woolwich Crown Court: "You made it clear that innocent people were going to die - men, women and children. The extent of harm would have been unprecedented."
Sarwar, of High Wycombe, Bucks, was the gang's quartermaster and its chemist.
Mr Justice Henriques told him: "You were a vital and leading member of this conspiracy, albeit I accept not its leader. You were a student of Jihad and of martyrdom."
Horror ... carnage bombs would have caused
Horror ... carnage bombs would have caused
The judge told Ali's schoolfriend Hussain: "You were Ali's right-hand man, you modified bottles, batteries and bulbs.
"There is no evidence that you were a religious fanatic. Your involvement seems to be entirely attributable to your long-term commitment to Ali."
Islam, also from High Wycombe, was told by Mr Justice Henriques that he had decided he had been kept in the dark about the conspiracy's ultimate target.
A retrial is being sought by the Director of Public Prosecutions for three of the men's co-defendants, accused of conspiracy to murder. An eighth man was cleared.
The gang were convicted after two six-month trials costing an estimated £100million.
[Source- The Sun]