WP : 2 Accused in Plot to Bomb Jet Get Bail

2 Accused in Plot to Bomb Jet Get Bail

By TARIQ PANJA | The Associated Press | October 27, 2006

LONDON -- A British judge granted bail Friday to two people accused in an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound jetliners with liquid explosives, and he urged lawyers to avoid any delays in a trial that is already more than a year away.

Nabeel Hussain, 22, and a 17-year-old male were granted bail by Judge David Calvert-Smith after a hearing at London's Central Criminal Court _ the only two of the accused to be granted bail so far. The judge denied bail Friday to 24-year-old Cossor Ali, the only woman charged in the case.

Police arrested 25 people in raids across Britain on Aug. 9-10 and charged 17 of them after uncovering a suspected plot to assemble and detonate improvised explosives on board as many as 10 U.S.-bound planes. The alleged plot was described by investigators as having the potential to be on a similar scale to the Sept. 11 attacks.

Hussain is one of 11 people charged with conspiracy to murder and preparing acts of terrorism. Ali is accused of failing to disclose information about a possible terrorist attack. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because he is underage, was charged with possessing material that could be used to prepare a terrorist act.

Court restrictions prevent reporting of their bail conditions.