Terror suspects in court
Tuesday, 22 Aug 2006 19:43
Security has been stepped up across the country in the wake of the alleged plot
Eleven people who allegedly plotted to blow up transatlantic aircraft have appeared in court today.
Scotland Yard yesterday charged eight people with conspiracy to murder and the new offence of preparing acts of terrorism contrary to section five of the Terrorism Act 2006.
Three others, including a 17-year-old, were charged with other terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism Act 2000.
All 11 appeared at City of Westminster magistrates court for initial hearings today and were remanded in custody.
Ahmed Abdullah Ali, 25, Arafat Waheed Khan, 25, Adam Khatib, 19, Ibrahim Savant, 25, Waheed Zaman, 22, all from Walthamstow, north-east London; Umar Islam, 28, from Stratford, east London; Assad Ali Sarwar, 26, from High Wycombe; and Tanvir Hussain, 25, from Leyton, east London, have all been charged under the 2006 act.
They have been remanded in custody until September 4th, when they are due to attend a further hearing at the Old Bailey.
The unnamed 17-year-old was charged with possession of articles useful to a person preparing an act of terrorism. Mehran Hussain and Cossar Ali, 23, from Walthamstow, are both charged with failing to disclose information of material assistance in preventing an act of terrorism.
All three have been remanded in custody until August 29th.
A woman was yesterday released without charge while 11 others remain in custody in London.
Yesterday, deputy assistant commissioner Peter Clarke of the Metropolitan police said that police are "doing everything we can to keep [the public] safe, for [people] to live [their] lives without being in constant fear".
He added: "However, we must be realistic. The threat from terrorism is real, it is here, it is deadly and it is enduring. As we all look for explanations, we cannot afford to be complacent and ignore the reality of what we face.
"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."