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Al-Qaeda plotter jailed for life Al-Qaeda plotter jailed for life
(about 2 hours later)
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.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, had admitted conspiracy to murder. He was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.Dhiren Barot, 34 and from London, had admitted conspiracy to murder. He was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.
Edmund Lawson QC, prosecuting, told the court Barot had planned to unleash a "memorable black day" of terror.Edmund Lawson QC, prosecuting, told the court Barot had planned to unleash a "memorable black day" of terror.
Mr Justice Butterfield said it could have caused carnage on a "colossal and unprecedented scale" if successful.Mr Justice Butterfield said it could have caused carnage on a "colossal and unprecedented scale" if successful.
'No noble cause''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 him: "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."The judge told him: "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." Mr Lawson had said the conspiracy was "probably in the final stages, but the Crown was unable to say that there was to be an attack carried out within weeks or months.
The judge added that if achieved it "would have affected thousands personally, millions indirectly and ultimately the whole nation of the US, and the UK." For well over two years we have been unable to show the British public the reality of the threat they faced from this man DAC Peter ClarkeScotland Yard href="/1/hi/uk/6121084.stm" class="">Profile: Dhiren Barot href="/1/hi/uk/6122270.stm" class="">Round-up of prosecution case
Mr Lawson had said uncontradicted evidence suggested "the conspiracy was probably in its final stages". The prosecution conceded the police had not found any evidence that materials had been acquired to carry out the plans, but said officers had also failed to find weapons to which Barot had access.
But the defence lawyer Ian Macdonald QC denied this, and referred to the "gas limo" project to plant explosive gas in cars under buildings as being, in Barot's words, a "rough presentation". But defence lawyer Ian Macdonald QC denied this, and referred to the main part of the conspiracy as, in Barot's words, a "rough presentation".
If ever you are released you will be on licence for the rest of your life Mr Justice Butterfield Profile: Dhiren Barot Round-up of prosecution case
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.
"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 had it not been for the police intervention, an attack "likely would have happened" at some stage. Mr Justice Butterfield said that Barot had not achieved any of his terror goals and that, on the evidence, he had not "moved to the final stages of achieving them". But he added that this was no thanks to him.
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. Mass damage
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.
'Terrorist attacks'
"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," he said.
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".
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. Mr Lawson 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.
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. Barot also planned to strike a number of US financial institutions. His plans for bombings in the US were initiated before the 11 September attacks, and Barot is not thought to have had any advance knowledge of them.
Thames plot claim Barot's plans were found on a laptop computer seized during a raid on a house in Gujrat, Pakistan, in July 2004. The Muslim convert, from Kingsbury, north-west London, was arrested by armed police the next month.
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.
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.
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.
Mr Justice Butterfield said he took into consideration Barot's guilty plea, although it had been just weeks before his trial.
He said that Barot had not achieved any of his terror goals and that, on the evidence, he had not "moved to the final stages of achieving them". But he added that this was no thanks to him.
The judge told him the two years and 94 days he had spent on remand would be taken into consideration but added: "If ever you are released you will be on licence for the rest of your life".
Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch head, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, called Barot a "determined and experienced terrorist" who attended training camps in 1995.Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch head, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, called Barot a "determined and experienced terrorist" who attended training camps in 1995.
"He used anti-surveillance coded messages in secret meetings, but he could not evade capture," he said. "For well over two years we have been unable to show the British public the reality of the threat they faced from this man. Now they can see for themselves the full horror of his plan."
He added: "For well over two years we have been unable to show the British public the reality of the threat they faced from this man. Now they can see for themselves the full horror of his plan."