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Terror plotter gets life sentence Al-Qaeda plotter jailed for life
(20 minutes later)
A man who plotted to kill thousands of people in the UK and US has been sentenced to life imprisonment and told he must serve at least 40 years. An al-Qaeda plotter who planned to kill thousands of people in the UK and US has been sentenced to life and told he must serve at least 40 years in jail.
Dhiren Barot, 34 and from London, admitted conspiracy to murder and was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court. Dhiren Barot, 34 and from London, had admitted conspiracy to murder. He was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.
Edmond Lawson QC, prosecuting, told the court Barot had planned to unleash a "memorable black day" of terror.Edmond Lawson QC, prosecuting, told the court Barot had planned to unleash a "memorable black day" of terror.
He said uncontradicted evidence suggested "the conspiracy was probably in its final stages". Mr Justice Butterfield said it could have caused carnage on a "colossal and unprecedented scale" if successful.
But this claim was refuted by Barot's defence team. 'No noble cause'
Barot, a former Hindu who converted to Islam, is also wanted by US authorities over charges of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction in the US and in Yemen.Barot, a former Hindu who converted to Islam, is also wanted by US authorities over charges of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction in the US and in Yemen.
The judge told Barot: "This was no noble cause. Your plans were to bring indiscriminate carnage, bloodshed and butchery first in Washington, New York and Newark, and thereafter the UK on a colossal and unprecedented scale."
"Your intention was not simply to cause damage, panic or fear. Your intention was to murder, but it went further. It was designed to strike at the very heart of democracy and the security of the state."
The judge added that if successful, it would "would have affected thousands personally, million indirectly and ultimately the whole nation of the US and the UK."
Mr Lawson said uncontradicted evidence suggested "the conspiracy was probably in its final stages". But this claim was refuted by Barot's defence team.
Mr Lawson said Barot prepared meticulous plans for al-Qaeda figures on a series of synchronised attacks in the UK.Mr Lawson said Barot prepared meticulous plans for al-Qaeda figures on a series of synchronised attacks in the UK.
We can achieve similar results from a grouping of gas cylinders as we would from a gas tanker Dhiren BarotDefendant's document Profile: Dhiren Barot Round-up of prosecution caseWe can achieve similar results from a grouping of gas cylinders as we would from a gas tanker Dhiren BarotDefendant's document Profile: Dhiren Barot Round-up of prosecution case
"The central plan was for the construction and deployment in a basement car park underneath a building of an improvised explosive device using gas cylinders hidden in limousines.""The central plan was for the construction and deployment in a basement car park underneath a building of an improvised explosive device using gas cylinders hidden in limousines."
Mr Lawson told the sentencing hearing the Crown was unable to say that there was to be an attack carried out within weeks or months, "but for the police intervention", an attack "likely would have happened" at some stage.Mr Lawson told the sentencing hearing the Crown was unable to say that there was to be an attack carried out within weeks or months, "but for the police intervention", an attack "likely would have happened" at some stage.
Mr Lawson conceded the police had not found any evidence that materials had been acquired to carry out the plans, but he added officers had also failed to find weapons to which Barot had access.Mr Lawson conceded the police had not found any evidence that materials had been acquired to carry out the plans, but he added officers had also failed to find weapons to which Barot had access.
Barot's plans were found in a document called "rough presentation for gas limo project", found on a laptop computer seized during a raid on a house in Gujrat, Pakistan, in July 2004.Barot's plans were found in a document called "rough presentation for gas limo project", found on a laptop computer seized during a raid on a house in Gujrat, Pakistan, in July 2004.
Mr Lawson told the court significant work was carried out to establish Barot's authorship of the "chilling" 39-page document.Mr Lawson told the court significant work was carried out to establish Barot's authorship of the "chilling" 39-page document.
Mr Lawson said Barot was "plainly" involved in ongoing work to further his plan for simultaneous atrocities.Mr Lawson said Barot was "plainly" involved in ongoing work to further his plan for simultaneous atrocities.
'Terrorist attacks''Terrorist attacks'
Mr Lawson said: "It is plainly a presentation for the consideration of the al-Qaeda leadership in Pakistan for approval and funding for plans to acquire explosives, hazardous, radioactive, inflammable material for use in co-ordinated terrorist attacks."Mr Lawson said: "It is plainly a presentation for the consideration of the al-Qaeda leadership in Pakistan for approval and funding for plans to acquire explosives, hazardous, radioactive, inflammable material for use in co-ordinated terrorist attacks."
Mr Lawson added it was to be launched simultaneously with other attacks, including a dirty bomb, an attack on trains, and the hijacking of petrol tankers to be rammed into a target.Mr Lawson added it was to be launched simultaneously with other attacks, including a dirty bomb, an attack on trains, and the hijacking of petrol tankers to be rammed into a target.
In the document, Barot had written his primary objective of the project was to "inflict mass damage and chaos".In the document, Barot had written his primary objective of the project was to "inflict mass damage and chaos".
The court heard that Barot had written: "The cylinders are easily available to the general public without requiring illegal activities licences or hijacking. Barot, from Kingsbury, north-west London, was described by prosecutors as "a member or close associate" of al-Qaeda. He was arrested by armed police in August 2004.
"We can achieve similar results from a grouping of gas cylinders as we would from a gas tanker."
Barot, from Kingsbury, north-west London, is described by prosecutors as "a member or close associate" of al-Qaeda. He was arrested by armed police in August 2004.
Mr Lawson previously told the court Barot planned to carry out "massive explosions" in the UK and in the US, the "principal object being to kill hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent people without warning."Mr Lawson previously told the court Barot planned to carry out "massive explosions" in the UK and in the US, the "principal object being to kill hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent people without warning."
The court had earlier heard that by pleading guilty Barot had made no admission with regard to any of his seven co-defendants, who all deny involvement in the plot.The court had earlier heard that by pleading guilty Barot had made no admission with regard to any of his seven co-defendants, who all deny involvement in the plot.
Thames plot claimThames plot claim
Mr Lawson has previously told the court Barot also plotted to detonate a bomb under the River Thames to flood the Tube network and potentially drown hundreds of commuters.Mr Lawson has previously told the court Barot also plotted to detonate a bomb under the River Thames to flood the Tube network and potentially drown hundreds of commuters.
Other targets in Britain had included the Savoy Hotel and Waterloo, Paddington and King's Cross train stations, the prosecution has said.
Barot also planned to strike the IMF and the World Bank in Washington DC, the New York Stock Exchange building, the Citigroup headquarters and the Prudential building in Newark, New Jersey.Barot also planned to strike the IMF and the World Bank in Washington DC, the New York Stock Exchange building, the Citigroup headquarters and the Prudential building in Newark, New Jersey.
Barot admired the Madrid train bombings and wrote about creating "another black day for the enemies of Islam and a victory for the Muslims", Mr Lawson said.
His plans for bombings in the US were initiated before the 11 September attacks, then shelved, but worked on as late as February 2004, Mr Lawson has said.His plans for bombings in the US were initiated before the 11 September attacks, then shelved, but worked on as late as February 2004, Mr Lawson has said.
These US plans were then used in the planning of synchronised attacks in the UK, he added.These US plans were then used in the planning of synchronised attacks in the UK, he added.