11 charged, 11 in custody in alleged terrorism plot

Associated Press

LONDON – Eleven people were charged Monday in the alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners, and investigators found bomb-making equipment and martyrdom videos, authorities said.

One person, a woman, was released without charge. Eleven other suspects remained in custody but were not charged, said Susan Hemming, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division.

“Since the 10th of August, we have found bomb-making equipment. There are chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide, electrical components, documents and other items,” said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, the head of the Metropolitan Police’s anti-terrorism unit. “We have also found a number of video recordings – these are sometimes referred to as martyrdom videos.”

Eight people were charged with two offenses each of conspiracy to commit murder and the intention of committing terrorist acts.

The Crown Prosecution Service identified them as Ahmed Abdullah Ali, also known as Abdullah Ali Ahmen Khan, 25; Tanvir Hussain, 25; Umar Islam aka Brian Young, 28; Arafat Waheed Khan, 25; Assad Ali Sarwar, 26; Adam Khatib, 19; Ibrahim Savant, 25 and Waheed Zaman, 22.

One person, a 17-year-old, was charged with possession of articles that could be used to prepare a terrorist act. He was not identified because of his age. Two others, Cossor Ali, 23, and Mehran Hussain, whose age wasn’t released, were charged with failing to disclose information that could help prevent a terrorist act.

Of the 11 charged, nine are from London, according to a Bank of England list of suspects whose assets were frozen following the arrests. Two are from suburban High Wycombe, 30 miles northwest of London.