Young mother among 11 charged in relation to 'airline plot'

Monday, August 21, 2006 - 07:51 PM

A young mother of an eight-month-old baby and a 17-year-old youth were among 11 people charged in Britain tonight in connection with the alleged airliner bomb plot.

Scotland Yard’s terror chief also revealed dramatic details of the massive investigation, including confirmation that officers had uncovered bomb-making equipment.

Charges against the 17-year-old male, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleged he had a book on bombs, suicide notes and the wills of people prepared to commit acts of terror.

The mother, a 23-year-old from east London, was charged with failing to disclose information which may have helped prevent her husband allegedly committing terrorism.

He was one of eight charged with conspiracy to murder and a new offence of preparing acts of terrorism, under laws which only came into effect earlier this year.

For the first time, head of the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist branch Peter Clarke revealed details of the “immense” investigation and warned the terror threat was still “deadly and enduring”.

He disclosed that police had seized bomb-making equipment since the arrests on August 10 including chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, electrical components and documents.

There was “highly significant” video and audio surveillance of the alleged plotters, he said.

Officers had also recovered a number of martyrdom videos, 400 computers, 200 mobile telephones and 8,000 computer media items such as DVDs and memory sticks.

However, he said at a central London press conference: “The investigation is far from complete. The scale is immense. Inquiries will span the globe. The enormity of the alleged plot will be matched only by our determination to follow every lead and line of inquiry.”

So far there had been 69 searches in houses, flats and business premises, vehicles and open spaces, he said.

“I would like to reassure the public that we are doing everything we can to keep you safe – for you to live your lives without being in constant fear,” he continued.

“However, we must be realistic. The threat from terrorism is real. It is here, it is deadly and it is enduring. These are difficult times for all communities but I can assure you that the police service will not flinch from its duty to protect the public.”

Susan Hemming, head of the Crown Prosecution Service counter terrorism division, said the alleged plot was to “manufacture and smuggle the component parts of improvised explosive devices on to aircraft and assemble and detonate them on board”.

The decision to charge the 11 was taken this morning with the approval of the Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald, said Ms Hemming.

She said she had been working full time alongside detectives in Scotland Yard for the last eight days and had carefully examined the case against each individual.

One woman has been released from custody without charge and 11 people remain in custody.

Ms Hemming reminded the media to report today’s developments in a responsible manner which would not prejudice forthcoming legal proceedings.

She said: “These individuals are only accused of these offences and they have a right to a fair trial.”

All those charged are expected to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

Scotland Yard has until Wednesday evening to question 10 of the other 11 suspects and was tonight applying for a custody extension in the case of the 11th.

Details of an alleged plot to blow up US-bound transatlantic airliners in mid-air were revealed after a series of co-ordinated police raids overnight on August 10.

It led to unprecedented security measures at UK airports – causing travel chaos – and saw Britain’s official terror alert status raised to critical, indicating that an attack was “imminent”.