Trial Begins in Case Of Terrorist Plotters

LONDON — A gang of British Muslims plotted to cause carnage "on an almost unprecedented scale" by detonating up to 18 suicide bombs on trans-Atlantic passenger flights, a London court heard yesterday.

In what would have been the worst terrorist atrocity since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the eight defendants planned to kill hundreds, possibly thousands, of passengers "all in the name of Islam," the prosecution claim.

The plotters were allegedly "almost ready" to carry out their plans to detonate liquid explosives on board at least seven flights to America and Canada from London's Heathrow Airport.