Trial of Heathrow Terror Suspects Begins

The trial of eight men accused of plotting to blow up seven transatlantic flights originating at Heathrow Airport in 2006 began this week in London, with prosecutors detailing their alleged plot to bring liquid explosives onto the planes.^[1]

The men, aged 23 to 29 and all of Pakistani descent, reportedly planned to smuggle hydrogen peroxide, carried in plastic bottles and colored to resemble a beverage, aboard flights where the liquid would later be mixed with other ingredients to make an improvised explosive. The targeted flights included routes to Washington, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Montreal, and Toronto.^[2]

Prosecutors allege the plot would have been the most ambitious and devastating terror attack since 9/11, and that "the authorities would be unable to prevent the other flights from meeting a similar fate as they would already be in midair” over the Atlantic Ocean when the first device was set to explode.^[3] The case is the result of the largest anti-terrorism investigation in British history, and the security restrictions placed on the transport of liquids and gels aboard passenger flights, initiated in response to the alleged plot, remain in place today.^[4]

Investigators reportedly found flight information, aircraft details, and a list of items allowed on-board passenger flights on a computer memory stick belonging to Abdul Ahmed Ali, one of the accused masterminds of the plot. Ali also allegedly wrote handwritten notes, which were presented to the jury, detailing formulas for combining the necessary organic material with hydrogen peroxide, as well as how to detonate the mixture.^[5]

The trial is expected to last several months, with the prosecution’s case-in-chief commencing next week.^[6]

Further information on terrorism crimes under United States jurisdiction can be found here, with relevant cases found on the Terrorism Crimes Blog.

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[1] Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan, 8 Accused in Transatlantic Bomb Plot Go on Trial, Washington Post, March 4, 2008 (available at www.washingtonpost.com).

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.