UK court convicts 3 of plot to blow up airliners
LONDON (AP) – Three British Muslims were convicted Monday of plotting to murder thousands by downing at least seven trans-Atlantic airliners in simultaneous attacks designed by al-Qaida to be the deadliest terrorist strike since Sept. 11, 2001.
Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, Assad Sarwar, 29, and Tanvir Hussain, 28 were found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court in London of leading a plan to detonate bombs on aircraft bound for the United States and Canada, using liquid explosives hidden in soda bottles.
Four other men were acquitted of conspiring to bomb airliners, but admitted lesser charges – and in one case conspiracy to murder. An eighth man was cleared completely.