Three More Charged In Airplane Bombing Plot

British authorities have charged three more people in the foiled plot to bomb aircraft headed to the US. This brings the total charged so far to 15, with about five more suspects in custody but not formally charged yet.

The three — Mohammed Yasar Gulzar, Mohammed Shamin Uddin and Nabeel Hussain — were also charged with preparing to commit terrorism by helping in an alleged plan to smuggle explosives aboard the planes, police said.

Eleven people have now been charged on those two counts. Four others were charged with lesser offenses, including having knowledge of a terrorist activity but not disclosing information about it.

A Scotland Yard statement said Gulzar, Uddin and Hussain conspired with eight other suspects in the alleged plot and had intended to commit "acts of terrorism engaged in conduct to give effect to their intention to smuggle the component parts of improvised explosive devices onto aircraft and assemble and detonate them on board."

All three men will be arraigned on Wednesday.

Of 25 people originally arrested, 15 have been charged and are being held by police, five others remain in custody without charge and five have been released.

Chief Magistrate Timothy Workman earlier ordered Nabeel Hussain's brother Mehran Hussain held in custody until Sept. 19. Mehran Hussain, and his other brother, Umair, are charged with failing to tell police about Nabeel's alleged involvement in what prosecutors say was a plot to down airliners using plastic and liquid explosives.

Workman also ordered Cossar Ali, 24, held in custody until Sept. 5, when her lawyer David Gottlieb said he intends to apply for bail. Ali, the only woman charged so far in connection with the alleged plot, is accused of failing to disclose information about a possible terrorist attack.

There is not word on whether the AP will be emulating the New York Times and blacking out their article from appearing in Britain. (Not that we're not in favor of the NYT moving to some other country where their fine standards will be much appreciated. After all, Cuba could use a good paper.)

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  By bernie, Wednesday, 30 August , 2006 @ 12:41 am

  After all, Cuba could use a good paper.

  For wrapping their cigars?

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