Airline plot trio get life terms

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**Gwar!**

Three men who plotted to blow up liquid bombs on flights from the UK to North America 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.

Plot "quartermaster" Assad Sarwar, 29, must serve at least 36 years, while Tanvir Hussain, 28, was jailed for at least 32 years at Woolwich Crown Court.

Their aim was a terrorist outrage to "stand alongside" the 9/11 attacks on the US in history, the judge said.

Mr Justice Henriques called the plot "the most grave and wicked conspiracy ever proven within this jurisdiction".

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the sentences "reflected the severity of this horrendous plot to kill and maim thousands of people".

"I'm very pleased the jury gave a sentence that was proportionate to this potential crime," he said.

"Our police and our national security service is a national asset, they've proven that again today."

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.

"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."

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 flights due to be targeted were from London's Heathrow airport to San Francisco, Washington, New York, Chicago, Toronto and Montreal.

Sarwar had obtained bomb ingredients which he kept at his home and in woods in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

A flat in the Walthamstow area of north-east London became the men's bomb factory, where they mixed chemicals that they planned to take onto planes in ordinary sports drinks bottles stored within hand luggage.

The plot prompted the biggest terror investigation ever mounted in the UK.

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.

"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.

Ahmed Ali, Sarwar and Hussain, from Leyton, east London, had been "high-level executives within this country".

The men's defence had been that they were planning a political stunt, including small explosions intended only to frighten people at airports.

These political demonstrations, they said, would be backed up by a documentary aimed at changing opinion on Western foreign policy.

But Mr Justice Henriques dismissed that claim, saying their intention had been "an act of revenge inspired by extremist Islamic thinking" toward the "governments of several allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan".

Ahmed Ali, Sarwar and Hussain, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder using explosives on aircraft.

They were also convicted of a more general conspiracy to murder offence.

A fourth man, Umar Islam, 31, convicted of the more general conspiracy to murder charge, was also given a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 22 years in prison.

The men's arrests in August 2006 caused chaos to the global aviation industry and prompted continuing restrictions to the amount of liquids passengers can take on to aircraft.

This had meant "massive expenditure" and "huge inconvenience for the travelling public" as a direct result of the plot, the judge said.

"Tons of liquids are confiscated from the public on a daily basis at airports," he said.

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 hearing on 5 October will decide whether Ibrahim Savant, 28, Arafat Khan, 28, and Waheed Zaman, 25, will face another trial.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8254156.stm

Gotta love the UK, the only country where you get life in prison for not actually hurting anyone but killing 270 people nets you less than 9 years in jail!

**Frazzled**

When will they get paroled for humanitarian reasons?

**Cane**

These guys better not get released for oil...or any reason!

**Kilkrazy**

Frazzled wrote:When will they get paroled for humanitarian reasons?

If and when they qualify.

**Gwar!**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Frazzled wrote:When will they get paroled for humanitarian reasons?

If and when they qualify.

How does killing 270 people ever qualify you for anything but life in jail?

**Frazzled**

Cane wrote:These guys better not get released for oil...or any reason!

How about curry? I've heard the Brits are fairly fanatical about their curries. Sometimes compromises must be made?
See thats why Hitler never conquered the UK. He didn't offer them new and improved curries. If only he had unleashed his Aryan Uberscientists onto making Aryan Ubercurries Europe would be speaking German (ok not really, Russian). Nyet?

But thats kind of the whole point. Instead of evil bang bang concentration camp evil, he could have led Germany towards uber world food power. I mean they already had a mastery of torts/cakes and were competitive on sausages. World food domination couldn't have been far behind. Instead of being remembered as evil buttheads, they would have been remembered as bringing us a taste of paradise.

This weird interlude brought to you by, German chocolate cake!

**theocd**

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! They won't get life. Which fool assumed that they would get life or even 32 years??? They'll be out in lets say 10 on grounds of good behaviour. HELLO!!! They were going to slaughter everyone.

For God's sake.

The OC-D

(No I do not write for the Daily Mail or even read it)

**Kilkrazy**

Gwar! wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:
Frazzled wrote:When will they get paroled for humanitarian reasons?

If and when they qualify.

How does killing 270 people ever qualify you for anything but life in jail?

They didn't kill anyone.

Read the law. If you don't like the way it works, lobby your MP to get it changed.

You can't expect things to be made up as they go along because it's a bit more complicated than that.

One of the key differences between our society and the society the bombers want to live in is that the way people get treated when they commit crimes isn't down to who's in charge and the wind direction on the day of the trial. It's down to public laws which have been debated in parliament and are enforced as fairly and objectively as possible.

**Gwar!**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Gwar! wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:
Frazzled wrote:When will they get paroled for humanitarian reasons?

If and when they qualify.

How does killing 270 people ever qualify you for anything but life in jail?

They didn't kill anyone.

I was talking about the actual bomber. How does someone who kills 270 people and served 8 years in jail qualify for compassionate release under ANY circumstances?

**Frazzled**

O-I-L

**JEB_Stuart**

Frazzled wrote:O-I-L

Haha, Frazzled FTW! I think that is very probable that these men will be released for some sort of trade deal or some similar arrangement, while ostensibly being released for "compassionate" reasons.

**Orkeosaurus**

At least the families of the deceased can drive around with oil.

**sebster**

Frazzled wrote:
Cane wrote:These guys better not get released for oil...or any reason!

How about curry? I've heard the Brits are fairly fanatical about their curries. Sometimes compromises must be made?
See thats why Hitler never conquered the UK. He didn't offer them new and improved curries. If only he had unleashed his Aryan Uberscientists onto making Aryan Ubercurries Europe would be speaking German (ok not really, Russian).

Aryan Ubercurry is the greatest name for a band I've ever heard.

**dogma**

Frazzled wrote:O-I-L

Its more than just oil. The UK needs allies outside of the EU if its going to avoid being swallowed up by it.

**Wrexasaur**

You are right dogma... it also includes some very sexy pancakes.... mmmm, sexy pancakes.

This pancake simply couldn't handle itself... it imploded with sexiness... to much pancake sexiness for itself to handle.

Hmmm... that still looks pretty good though... hmm.

Here we go...

**JEB_Stuart**

Wrexasaur wrote:You are right dogma... it also includes some very sexy pancakes.... mmmm, sexy pancakes.

This pancake simply couldn't handle itself... it imploded with sexiness... to much pancake sexiness for itself to handle.

Hmmm... that still looks pretty good though... hmm.

Here we go...

Delicious, delicious pancakes....

**sebster**

dogma wrote:Its more than just oil. The UK needs allies outside of the EU if its going to avoid being swallowed up by it.

You think they're aligning themselves with Libya to avoid being swallowed up by the EU?

Surely if it was about avoiding the EU then it'd be about their relationship with the US. And in this instance the US wanted the guy kept in prison, so I'm not sure its that much of a factor.

Nah, I think it's more about the weakness of the original conviction. It'd look pretty bad to drag a guy with cancer through a lengthy appeals process, if at the end the judge says the original case was crappy.

**JEB_Stuart**

sebster wrote:
dogma wrote:Its more than just oil. The UK needs allies outside of the EU if its going to avoid being swallowed up by it.

You think they're aligning themselves with Libya to avoid being swallowed up by the EU?

Surely if it was about avoiding the EU then it'd be about their relationship with the US. And in this instance the US wanted the guy kept in prison, so I'm not sure its that much of a factor.

Nah, I think it's more about the weakness of the original conviction. It'd look pretty bad to drag a guy with cancer through a lengthy appeals process, if at the end the judge says the original case was crappy.

I think that you are right on the money here Sebster. Last time I was in the UK, many of the people I talked to, including at universities, were telling me how they were tired of the EU and how it felt like they were being demeaned as a country. I wonder if UKIP will ever capitalize on this growing sentiment.

**dogma**

sebster wrote:
You think they're aligning themselves with Libya to avoid being swallowed up by the EU?

Surely if it was about avoiding the EU then it'd be about their relationship with the US. And in this instance the US wanted the guy kept in prison, so I'm not sure its that much of a factor.

Libya has been the de facto head of the African Union for the last five years or so. That probably doesn't seem like a big deal now, but it will become increasingly important as the race to exploit African resources starts to heat up. The US was mildly annoyed by the release of Megrahi, but it will probably reap significant benefits from a UK that engages itself with Africa.

But you're right, the special relationship with the US is going to be their most important national 'asset' in the coming years.

sebster wrote:
Nah, I think it's more about the weakness of the original conviction. It'd look pretty bad to drag a guy with cancer through a lengthy appeals process, if at the end the judge says the original case was crappy.

There is that as well.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

JEB_Stuart wrote:I think that you are right on the money here Sebster. Last time I was in the UK, many of the people I talked to, including at universities, were telling me how they were tired of the EU and how it felt like they were being demeaned as a country. I wonder if UKIP will ever capitalize on this growing sentiment.

My nefarious master plan for the Brits involves backing Turkey's EU membership, and then promptly dropping out after they are admitted; leaving the French and the Germans to handle the ensuing cultural chaos. Of course, that would also create an economic entity of ungodly power, but we'll leave that to the children.

**grizgrin**

Frazzled wrote:When will they get paroled for humanitarian reasons?

Round about the time they get hangnails.

**whatwhat**

JEB_Stuart wrote:
sebster wrote:
dogma wrote:Its more than just oil. The UK needs allies outside of the EU if its going to avoid being swallowed up by it.

You think they're aligning themselves with Libya to avoid being swallowed up by the EU?

Surely if it was about avoiding the EU then it'd be about their relationship with the US. And in this instance the US wanted the guy kept in prison, so I'm not sure its that much of a factor.

Nah, I think it's more about the weakness of the original conviction. It'd look pretty bad to drag a guy with cancer through a lengthy appeals process, if at the end the judge says the original case was crappy.
I think that you are right on the money here Sebster. Last time I was in the UK, many of the people I talked to, including at universities, were telling me how they were tired of the EU and how it felt like they were being demeaned as a country. I wonder if UKIP will ever capitalize on this growing sentiment.

I think wary is the right word. But UKIP to me aren't the vote you need to make in my opinion, they seem more focused on actually winning seats than being a pressure group. Which makes you wonder if they are just using the issue.

But come on, this is a positive story people. The British justice system has actually given out a decent scentence for once and there's merit for the police who found these guys before anything happened.

**sebster**

dogma wrote:Libya has been the de facto head of the African Union for the last five years or so. That probably doesn't seem like a big deal now, but it will become increasingly important as the race to exploit African resources starts to heat up. The US was mildly annoyed by the release of Megrahi, but it will probably reap significant benefits from a UK that engages itself with Africa.

Well sure, it sounds reasonable when you put it like that.

**JEB_Stuart**

dogma wrote:

JEB_Stuart wrote:I think that you are right on the money here Sebster. Last time I was in the UK, many of the people I talked to, including at universities, were telling me how they were tired of the EU and how it felt like they were being demeaned as a country. I wonder if UKIP will ever capitalize on this growing sentiment.

My nefarious master plan for the Brits involves backing Turkey's EU membership, and then promptly dropping out after they are admitted; leaving the French and the Germans to handle the ensuing cultural chaos. Of course, that would also create an economic entity of ungodly power, but we'll leave that to the children.

Ooooo, how devious of you!

I have never been a fan of the EU, but I don't really worry about them as an economic power for one big reason: demographic imbalance. I fully support the US' special relationship with the UK, and I also think that we should be treating them more like equals, friends, etc and not like lapdogs. I can't say that I have been to pleased with the way Americans have treated the Brits these past few years....

**dogma**

The EU is a in a tricky situation. It can't survive in its current incarnation as the massive economic variance from state to state makes the Euro rather unwieldy from the perspective of a central bank, and if the Euro fails the EU fails. In order to exercise more control over the conditions which affect the currency the EU will inevitably have to expand its overall authority; becoming more like the United States in terms of political make up.

The other option would be drastically reduce the size of the Union; kicking out nations like Greece, Hungary, Romania, etc. That's not a particularly attractive option as the EU has, heretofore, been largely about pulling Eastern Europe away from Russia.

Basically, the EU needs to either get far stronger, far smaller, or die of impotence.

**JEB_Stuart**

I vote for the third option

**reds8n**

dogma wrote: In order to exercise more control over the conditions which affect the currency the EU will inevitably have to expand its overall authority; becoming more like the United States in terms of political make up.

President Blair coming soon.

..seriously.

With regards to the Libya thing : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7095657.stm

The problems with UKIP are : A. They pretty much only have 1 policy, withdrawal from the EU.. and this will, seemingly, solve every single other issue. Yes..clearly. And B. Many of their candidates tend to be whackjobs which when you examine them tend to believe that we're controlled by Martians/ Jews run the world/fluoride in the water is for mind control/ gays want to marry so they can eat your children/the earth is flat.. that sort of thing.

**LuciusAR**

Why precisely has a decision made by the Scottish justice system become a stick to beat the entire UK with?

If we assume the purpose of prison is to A) Rehabilitate the prisoner and B) to prevent them committing further crimes while incarcerated then I can see no reason to keep a fail man with 3 months left to live inside as they are of no threat to anyone. The only reason to keep him in was to satisfy bloodlust. Thankfully the law is above such things.

**whatwhat**

Mainly because senior ministors in UK praliament have admited the decision to release him was based on oil and trade.

**Albatross**

Well said LuciusAR - the British justice system has been 1500 years in the making. We used to torture and kill people who broke the law, but that didn't stop murder, rape etc. from taking place.
You think Britain's dangerous now? 200 years ago it was impossible to walk across Soho Square without risking your life twice! People say the law is too soft? Is that worse than imprisonment without trial? KILLING criminals? Soviet-style gulags?
And people say Megrahi was released as part of an oil deal? So what?
Is that any worse than invading another sovereign nation in the interest of oil?

**whatwhat**

Albatross wrote:Is that any worse than invading another sovereign nation in the interest of oil?

No, but that isn't the point. The point is it makes the british justice system, which you have just sent up, look a mock.