Jail Terms For Airline Bomb Plot

Three men who plotted to blow up planes mid-flight between the UK and America and Canada by using liquid explosives were today jailed for life - with minimum sentences up to 40 years.

Sentencing Abdullah Ahmed Ali, Assad Sarwar and Tanvir Hussain at Woolwich Crown Court Mr Justice Henriques said the plot would probably have succeeded had it not been for the intervention of the police and security service.

Mr Justice Henriques told Ali he must serve at least 40 years, Assad Sarwar at least 36 years and Tanvir Hussain at least 32 years.

A fourth man - 31-year-old Umar Islam - who was convicted of conspiracy to murder persons unknown - was also jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 22 years.

Mr Justice Henriques said Ali, aged 28, Sarwar, aged 29, and 28-year-old Hussain's aim was a terrorist attack to "stand alongside" 9/11.

He described the plot as "the most grave and wicked conspiracy ever proven within this jurisdiction", and added that it had "reached an advanced stage in its development".

Mr Justice Henriques added: "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.

"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 Met operation, codenamed Operation Overt, was one othe biggest investigations in the history of the Met.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner John McDowall, Head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and Senior National Co-ordinator Counter Terrorism, said: "This has been a lengthy, resource-intensive and meticulous investigation, which has culminated in the convictions and today's long sentences.

"I cannot thank enough all those involved in bringing these terrorists to justice," he concluded.

See: Airline Bomb Plotters Convictions "Vindication" Of UK Intelligence

(BMcC/GK)