Trial for would-be Liquids Bombers
Apr 3, 2008, 7:54 pm
#1
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Trial for would-be Liquids Bombers
I posted the story in NewsStand but here is an excerpt and the link to the trial, for anyone wanting to know background on UK-based alleged airline liquids-bombers (with TSS-related highlights):
Plan to 'bring down planes' with liquid explosives [SMH]
Eight British men planned to detonate bombs aboard airliners bound for the US and Canada, hoping to kill hundreds of passengers in a major terrorist attack, a prosecutor said as he opened a trial into the case.
Eight British men planned to detonate bombs aboard airliners bound for the US and Canada, hoping to kill hundreds of passengers in a major terrorist attack, a prosecutor said as he opened a trial into the case.
Seven specific journeys were highlighted within the files, but Ali had also logged details of other flights to Boston, Denver and Miami. "They did not confine their ambitions to the seven flights," Wright said.
The prosecutor said the men had not checked details of return journeys. "They didn't appear interested in flying back to the United Kingdom on a return flight," he said,
Major disruption was caused to British airports and hundreds of flights were grounded when police arrested the suspects in August 2006.
"The attack they contemplated was not long off," when police rounded up the men, Wright said.
Discovery of the plot led to tight new restrictions on the items airline passengers can to take on board planes as carryon luggage.
All eight men, each of whom has family ties to Pakistan, are accused of conspiracy to murder and a charge of planning an act of violence likely to endanger the safety of an aircraft. Both charges carry maximum sentences of life imprisonment.
The prosecutor said the men had not checked details of return journeys. "They didn't appear interested in flying back to the United Kingdom on a return flight," he said,
Major disruption was caused to British airports and hundreds of flights were grounded when police arrested the suspects in August 2006.
"The attack they contemplated was not long off," when police rounded up the men, Wright said.
Discovery of the plot led to tight new restrictions on the items airline passengers can to take on board planes as carryon luggage.
All eight men, each of whom has family ties to Pakistan, are accused of conspiracy to murder and a charge of planning an act of violence likely to endanger the safety of an aircraft. Both charges carry maximum sentences of life imprisonment.
Apr 3, 2008, 8:14 pm
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Glad to hear the trial is finally on tap, because maybe on cross examination some of the salient details about how the accused planned to "cook" up onboard bombs will be revealed. For starters, I'd love to know if and how they managed to get their hands on highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide.
Apr 3, 2008, 9:09 pm
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The evidence mentioned yesterday was that they had pre-cooked it and then packaged it in Tang cartons. Previous bombers had purchased large amounts of over-the-counter Hydrogen Peroxide and concentrated it.
BBC news coverage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7328892.stm
Flights chosen by the bombers:
1415 United Airlines Flight 931 to San Francisco
1500 Air Canada Flight 849 to Toronto
1515 Air Canada Flight 865 to Montreal
1540 United Airlines Flight 959 to Chicago
1620 United Airlines Flight 925 to Washington
1635 American Airlines Flight 131 to New York
1650 American Airlines Flight 91 to Chicago
BBC news coverage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7328892.stm
Flights chosen by the bombers:
1415 United Airlines Flight 931 to San Francisco
1500 Air Canada Flight 849 to Toronto
1515 Air Canada Flight 865 to Montreal
1540 United Airlines Flight 959 to Chicago
1620 United Airlines Flight 925 to Washington
1635 American Airlines Flight 131 to New York
1650 American Airlines Flight 91 to Chicago
Apr 3, 2008, 10:08 pm
#4
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High concentration hydrogen peroxide can be purchased from a variety of chemical supply companies like Sigma or Aldrich, as it should be.
Distillation also produces high-concentrate hydrogen peroxide. It is not difficult to obtain such a chemical, nor should it be.
Apr 3, 2008, 10:18 pm
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Apr 3, 2008, 11:49 pm
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I think will most definately be a very interesting case..I can't wait until the trail progresses farther on, I heard about the trial starting on a local news radio station.
It will be interesting to see what else is discovered as a result of this trial.
It will be interesting to see what else is discovered as a result of this trial.
Apr 4, 2008, 12:12 am
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The jury heard the main ingredient of the explosives would have been hydrogen peroxide mixed with other organic materials.
The liquid explosive would have been injected in to 500ml plastic bottles of soft drinks Oasis and Lucozade, Mr Wight said.
A sugary drink known as Tang would be mixed with the solution to add power to the explosion, he continued.
Mr Wright told the court the devices would be detonated using a substance called HMTD (hexamethylene triperoxide diamine) concealed in AA 1.5-volt batteries.
He said of hydrogen peroxide: "It is capable of being detonated to deadly effect, as previous terrorist incidents have demonstrated."
The liquid explosive would have been injected in to 500ml plastic bottles of soft drinks Oasis and Lucozade, Mr Wight said.
A sugary drink known as Tang would be mixed with the solution to add power to the explosion, he continued.
Mr Wright told the court the devices would be detonated using a substance called HMTD (hexamethylene triperoxide diamine) concealed in AA 1.5-volt batteries.
He said of hydrogen peroxide: "It is capable of being detonated to deadly effect, as previous terrorist incidents have demonstrated."
Apr 4, 2008, 1:45 am
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Glad to see that these guys are finally facing trial and hopefully they will receive a just punishment. Hopefully details will come out during the case and current procedures can be refined to make travel both easier and safer.
Apr 4, 2008, 5:18 am
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Apr 4, 2008, 8:06 am
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Interesting details about the plot, like putting porn and condoms in their carry-on bags to help get through security. Smart.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...e_id=1770&ct=5
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...e_id=1770&ct=5
Apr 4, 2008, 8:26 am
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It was mentioned in this BBC story:
Only partially mean to be so pedantic, but I'm sure there will be oodles of misinformation distributed. Not the least by the prosecutor.
I also see this as a trial of Administrator Hawley and the TSA, since this event is the rock on which the liquid carnival was built.
I predicted two years ago that the defendants would walk when this came to trial.
Will birdstrike eat cake, or will he eat crow? I feel a need for the popcorn smiley.
Apr 4, 2008, 8:28 am
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I hope the bars are lower than "beyond a reasonable doubt" in British courts.
Because if batteries, hydrogen peroxide, condoms, pr0n mags, various beverages and flight schedules is the backbone of their case...well, most of us have some of those items just for everyday use...and none of us with malicious intent.
If I were a defense attorney (if they have such a thing as closing arguments in British courts), I would ask the jurors to ask themselves how many of them have those items right now in their homes and to ask themselves if they have any malicious intent.
Reasonable doubt, for me, would be established given that none (to the best of my knowledge) had purchased tickets or even had Passports. Again, if I was a defense attorney, I would point out the number of "security" checks there are at LHR, how many times "papers please" is asked, and ask the jury if they thought they'd be able to get through without a ticket or a passport.
Sure, there's circumstantial evidence abound here, but based on the article, I'm skeptical on the ability for a conviction for all of these people.
Because if batteries, hydrogen peroxide, condoms, pr0n mags, various beverages and flight schedules is the backbone of their case...well, most of us have some of those items just for everyday use...and none of us with malicious intent.
If I were a defense attorney (if they have such a thing as closing arguments in British courts), I would ask the jurors to ask themselves how many of them have those items right now in their homes and to ask themselves if they have any malicious intent.
Reasonable doubt, for me, would be established given that none (to the best of my knowledge) had purchased tickets or even had Passports. Again, if I was a defense attorney, I would point out the number of "security" checks there are at LHR, how many times "papers please" is asked, and ask the jury if they thought they'd be able to get through without a ticket or a passport.
Sure, there's circumstantial evidence abound here, but based on the article, I'm skeptical on the ability for a conviction for all of these people.
Apr 4, 2008, 8:38 am
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The prosecution might as well be going after these people for trying to use magic. It doesn't exist, the plot's not credible, but damnit, these people were plotting.
"What exactly did you plan to do?"
"First, I was going to put my cloak of invisibility on and sneak past the checkpoint. Then I was going to use my new Potion of Firebomb to blow up three planes. Finally, I was going to cast a 9th-level Asphixiation spell on the people in T3 (Death to America!) before putting my cloak of invisibility and sneaking away into the shadows!!! Ahahaha!"
Kip Hawley's response: <removes finger from nose long enough to say> "We'll have to ban magic!"
(uh, sir...)
Kip Hawley: "Ok, we'll ban these Potions of Firebomb, whatever they are." <resumes picking>
(uh, sir...)
Kip Hawley: "Ok, we'll ban whatever they're using to make these Potions of Firebomb!"
"What exactly did you plan to do?"
"First, I was going to put my cloak of invisibility on and sneak past the checkpoint. Then I was going to use my new Potion of Firebomb to blow up three planes. Finally, I was going to cast a 9th-level Asphixiation spell on the people in T3 (Death to America!) before putting my cloak of invisibility and sneaking away into the shadows!!! Ahahaha!"
Kip Hawley's response: <removes finger from nose long enough to say> "We'll have to ban magic!"
(uh, sir...)
Kip Hawley: "Ok, we'll ban these Potions of Firebomb, whatever they are." <resumes picking>
(uh, sir...)
Kip Hawley: "Ok, we'll ban whatever they're using to make these Potions of Firebomb!"