British Man Admits Plotting to Bomb Buildings in NYC, DC

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The New York Sun

LONDON (AP) – A British man pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to murder in a plot to bomb high-profile targets in America, including the New York Stock Exchange and the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington.

“I plead guilty,” Dhiran Barot, 34, said in a clear voice at Woolwich Crown Court in south London.

Judge Neil Butterfield said he would sentence Barot, 32, at a later date. The maximum sentence he could receive is life in prison.

Prosecutors said the plot, foiled by Barot’s arrest in 2004, involved targets in both Britain and America. Besides the stock exchange and IMF headquarters, other alleged targets included the World Bank headquarters in Washington, the Citigroup building in New York and the Prudential building in Newark, N.J.

Seven other men face trial next year.

Prosecutor Edmund Lawson said Barot planned “to carry out explosions at those premises with no warning. They were plainly designed to kill as many people as possible.”

In Britain, Barot planned to pack gas cylinders into limousines and detonate them in underground parking garages, Mr. Lawson said.

This plan, found on a computer, was “described by Mr. Barot as the main cornerstone of attacks planned to take place in the U.K.,” Mr. Lawson said.

The plot was to be supplemented by three other plans, including a “radiation or dirty bomb project.”

He said that plot involved the use of radioactive material in a rudimentary bomb that would cause “injury, fear, terror and chaos,” although it was unlikely to kill anyone.

“The radiation project was designed, among other things, to affect some 500 people,” Mr. Lawson said.

By pleading guilty, Barot “makes no admission with regard to the involvement of any of his seven co-defendants in the conspiracy,” Mr. Lawson said.

Prosecutors said they had no evidence to contradict the defense’s claim that there was no intention to kill anyone in the “dirty bomb” plot.

Mr. Lawson also said he had no evidence to dispute the defense contention that no funding had been received for Barot’s projects, nor any vehicles or bomb-making materials acquired.

Mr. Lawson said plans outlining details of the “back-to-back” attacks had been found on a computer after Barot’s arrest in August 2004.

Barot, wearing a gray sweater, dark trousers and closely trimmed beard, stared intently ahead, but betrayed no emotion as he entered his guilty plea.

Barot had faced 12 other charges – one of conspiracy to commit public nuisance, seven of making a record of information for terrorist purposes and four of possessing a record of information for terrorist purposes – but the judge ordered no action taken on them for the time being.


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