Britain: Terrorists planning attacks on pubs, nightclubs, trains were British-Pakistani and trained in Pakistan

Independent:

'Terrorists had what they needed to bomb Britain' By Nicola Woolcock

SEVEN Islamic terrorists plotted to blow up a significant British target causing maximum loss of life with remotely detonated explosives, the Old Bailey was told yesterday. Six trained at terrorist camps in Pakistan, two were said to have worked for al-Qaeda’s third-in-command and one said that Britain “needed to be hit because of its support for the US”. Their alleged plan to attack a nightclub, train or pub was averted at the last minute — after they had acquired all the bomb ingredients but before they could decide which site to hit. The men, mostly British-born, are standing trial after being held at Belmarsh prison for up to two years. The defendants, the court was told, obtained ammonium nitrate fertiliser, aluminium powder and detonators to set off the device remotely. The plot, which involved accomplices in Canada, the US and Pakistan, was foiled after months of surveillance by MI5, anti-terrorism and Special Branch officers. David Waters, QC, for the prosecution, said that some of the defendants had pretended to be tourists to disguise that they were attending a terrorist training camp in Pakistan and acquiring explosive ingredients. Their plan, he said, was to use a bomb or bombs to “kill and injure citizens of the United Kingdom . . . They were intercepted before the plot could reach fruition . . . when most of the necessary components were in place. All that remained before their plans achieved their ultimate goal was for the target or targets to be finally agreed. “Many of the defendants have spent time in Pakistan. Some have family connections with that country. Their principal purpose, however, in spending time in Pakistan was to acquire expertise in relation, particularly to explosives.”

Telegraph: 'Terror plot against pubs and trains'
By John Steele and Duncan Gardham

One of the defendants, Waheed Mahmood, had been working for National Grid Transco which was "of significance in this case", Mr Waters said. The company operates the high voltage electricity system in England and Wales and the high pressure gas system in Britain.

The aim of the plot was "at the very least to destroy strategic plant within the UK or more realistically to kill and injure citizens of the UK", Mr Waters said. A "great deal of preparation" had been done in Pakistan but the targets were to be in Britain, he said.

In July 2003 members of the group travelled to a training camp in Kalam posing as tourists. At the camp they carried out a successful explosion using between a pound and two pounds of ammonium nitrate, and aluminium powder, and making a U-shaped hole under the ground.

They also used false names in Pakistan, the court was told. One of the defendants used the name Hamza and codes were used in e-mails, including referring to detonators as "cigarettes".

Financial Times:
Seven deny plotting bomb campaign