Guardian : Brothers in court over 'bomb plot'

Brothers in court over 'bomb plot'

Press Association | September 19, 2006

Two brothers charged in connection with the alleged airliner bomb plot have appeared in court.

Mehran and Umair Hussain are accused of failing to disclose information about other suspects in the case.

The former appeared in person at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London, while the latter appeared via video-link from Belmarsh Prison in south-east London. Both cases were put back to October 12 for an expected committal hearing.

Young mother Cossor Ali, who is also accused of failing to disclose information about others involved in the alleged plot, did not appear in person but was legally represented. Her case was put back until September 29, when she will appear by video-link before being further remanded into custody until October 17.

A fourth person - aged 17 - also arrested in connection with the alleged plot appeared via video-link charged with two unrelated terrorism charges.

Mehran Hussain, 23, and Umair, 24, both of Chingford, east London, are charged with failing to disclose information about their brother, Nabeel. He is one of 11 men charged with conspiracy to murder and preparing an act of terrorism in relation to the alleged plot.

A further two men are accused of the second offence only. All 13 appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link on Monday.

The supposed plot was to smuggle improvised explosive devices on to transatlantic passenger jets and then assemble and detonate them on board.

Ali, 24, of Walthamstow, east London, who has an eight-month-old baby, is accused of failing to disclose information about her husband, Abdul Ali. He is among the 11 defendants accused of conspiracy to murder and preparing an act of terrorism.

The teenager who appeared, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is being held at Woodhill Prison and faces two charges under Section 57 and Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. It is alleged that he had a manual on improvised explosive devices, a map of Afghanistan and a number of suicide wills from people prepared to commit terrorist acts.

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