Two Rabbis Targets in London Terror Plot

LONDON — Nine terror suspects plotted a bomb blitz in London, a London court heard. Two Rabbis were listed a possible targets in the attack. Other potential targets were tourist attractions, the Stock Exchange, the mayor of London, the dean of a cathedral, and the U.S. Embassy.

Targets for bombings had been agreed by the cell’s members before police swooped, the London Court was told.

The suspects had also conducted live tests on explosives as part of their ‘unlawful and malicious conspiracy’.

Anti-terror police arrested the men, aged between 19 and 28, during a series of dawn raids in London and other cities on December 20.

The suspects sat in the glass-panelled dock as the court was given details of atrocities they were accused of planning for the festive season.

Some of the men were described as being of Bangladeshi origin who were either born in the UK or had arrived when they were young, attending school and working in Britain. One is a married father of three and another’s wife is five months pregnant.

A covert surveillance operation was carried out by police and MI5 which involved following suspects and recording conversations, the court heard.

Prosecutor Piers Arnold said Trafalgar Square was visited and then Westminster, where a mobile phone was allegedly held up and pointed at Big Ben.

Surveillance teams then followed their quarries to the South Bank and the London Eye giant ferris wheel, which was being ‘observed intently’.

The identity of the two Rabbis they planned to target is unknown.

The second charge is ‘engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism’ between the same dates.

This includes downloading information from the internet, researching materials and methods, and obtaining materials and methods. The charge said the men had discussed and carried out reconnaissance on potential targets, and agreed their targets.

Finally, it said they had experimented with explosives by ‘igniting and testing incendiary material’.

The men were charged on Sunday night and Monday morning after the Crown Prosecution Service reviewed the evidence gathered by police.

Sue Hemming, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, announced: “I have reviewed the evidence provided to me by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit and I am satisfied there is sufficient for a realistic prospect of conviction, and it is in the public interest that these men should be charged with these offences.”

In court, the Crown opened the 105-minute hearing by spending half an hour outlining the allegations against the men. For legal reasons, further details cannot be reported.

The nine suspects appeared in court in three groups. Flanked by police and court security guards, each spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

They all looked relaxed, and Latif even winked and gave a thumbs-up as he was led from the dock.

At the time of the police raids, an independent reviewer of counter-terrorism powers, described the alleged plot as ‘significant’, while Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates said it was ‘absolutely vital’ for the public to remain vigilant.

The operation was the most high-profile anti-terror raid in Britain since April 2009.

Two suspects asked to be freed on bail, but the Judge remanded all nine men in custody.

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Article edited by CrownHeights.info from the UK Daily Mail