Three men accused of planning to detonate liquid explosives aboard
trans-Atlantic jetliners two years ago have pleaded guilty to
conspiring to cause explosions. But the defendants, on trial in
London, insisted they never intended to bomb airliners.
The same three defendants, and two others, also admitted Monday to making suicide videos.
Those
entering pleas are among eight men on trial for the so-called Heathrow
airport bomb plot. Authorities in 2006 said the suspects plotted to
bomb U.S.-bound airliners with liquid explosives concealed in soft
drink bottles as their flights crossed the Atlantic.
The jury,
which began hearing the case in April, must decide if the remaining
three suspects and the five who have admitted planning explosions are
also guilty of the key charge of conspiring to bomb jetliners. Jury
deliberations are expected to begin next week.
The eight accused
have been identified as Abdulla Ahmed Ali, Assad Sarwar, Tanvir
Hussain, Muhammad Gulzar, Ibrahim Savant, Arafat Waheed Khan, Waheed
Zaman and Umar Islam, also known as Brian Young. All of the defendants
are in their 20s.
Defense attorneys contend the suspects planned
to cause a small explosion near the British parliament as a publicity
stunt to draw attention to a film documentary they were said to be
producing.
British authorities in 2006 said the airliner plot
was well-advanced and aimed at mass murder "on an unimaginable scale."
Reports of the suspected plot led to alarm on both sides of the
Atlantic and to tight restrictions on airline passengers carrying
liquids and gels.
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