UK student on trial for 'al Qaida terror plot'

A UK-based Pakistani terrorism suspect was among several young recruits under orders by al Qaida to infiltrate Western society and pull off the biggest operation since the September 11 2001 attacks, a prosecutor has said in opening statements.

The failed conspiracy in 2009 called for attacks in England, New York City and Denmark, assistant US attorney Celia Cohen told jurors in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York.