Iraqi doctor remanded on bomb plot charge

An Iraqi doctor today became the first person to appear in court charged in connection with the suspected car bomb plots in London and Glasgow.

Bilal Abdullah was remanded in custody when he appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London.

The 27-year-old, who was arrested after a flaming Jeep was driven into Glasgow Airport a week ago, is accused of conspiring to cause explosions.

Abdullah, who wore a white sweatshirt and was flanked by two plain-clothed security officers, spoke only to give his name and to confirm his date of birth.

The court clerk told him: “The charge against you is that between January 1 and July 1 this year within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court, you unlawfully and maliciously conspired with others to cause explosions of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property in the United Kingdom.”

Abdullah stood in the dock while the charge was read out to him but had earlier failed to stand when District Judge Anthony Evans entered the room.

Karen Jones prosecuting, told the court that the charge was related to suspected bomb attacks in London and Glasgow on June 29 and June 30.

There was no application for bail and Abdullah was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on July 27.

Ms Jones told the court that on June 29 two "vehicle-borne improvised devices" were found in London but had not been detonated.

She added that on June 30 a vehicle was driven at Terminal 1 of Glasgow Airport with a bomb on board that did detonate.

She said the devices were made from gas, petrol and nails.

After telling the court more details about the case District Judge Anthony Evans remanded Abdullah into custody.

He said: “This case will be sent to the Central Criminal Court for trial.

“You will first appear there on July 27 at 10am. You will remain in custody until that date.”

Six other people are being held in the UK after the attacks in the two cities.

Two are trainee doctors, aged 25 and 28, who were arrested at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley.

Another is a man arrested following the attack at Glasgow airport, who is being treated for burns and is in a critical condition in hospital.

The others being detained include Dr Mohammed Asha, 26, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, who was arrested with his wife, Marwa Asha, on the M6 motorway in Cheshire last Saturday.

The same day a 26-year-old doctor from Bangalore, India, who worked at Halton Hospital in Runcorn, Cheshire, was arrested in the Lyme Street area of Liverpool.

One other doctor was arrested in Australia – Dr Mohammed Haneef, 27, who once worked at the Halton Hospital in Runcorn.

Several other doctors of Indian origin with experience working in the UK have also been questioned in Australia.