Posted on 11/06/2006 7:13:37 AM PST by Dark Skies
A Muslim convert raised in Britain admitted plotting to detonate a "dirty bomb" in the UK as part of a plan to kill "hundreds if not thousands" of British and American civilians.
Dhiren Barot, 34, planned to commit mass murder on a huge scale by blowing up some of the world's largest financial institutions, detonating a radioactive bomb in Britain and even flooding London by rupturing the Thames.
Barot planned to murder "enemies of Islam" in an unprecedented plot involving buildings and public transport.
In the UK Barot plotted to detonate a radioactive bomb and to blow up buildings by packing stretch limousines with gas canisters.
Within the US he was orchestrating an attack on a number of iconic buildings including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, as well as the New York Stock Exchange, CitiGroup buildings, and the Prudential building.
Barot appeared in custody for a sentencing hearing at heavily-guarded Woolwich Crown Court in south east London today.
Edmund Lawson QC, prosecuting, said: "It was a single conspiracy developed over four and a half years to commit mass murder both in the USA and here.
"The plot was to murder innocent people in what forever cause it was deemed.
"Barot, in his own words, was intent on creating No Suggestion black day for the enemies of Islam', and upon emulating 'the respectable project that took place in Madrid', referring to the train bombs in Madrid on March 11th, 2004.
"The allegation is that Barot, evidently a member or close associate of the Al-Qa'eda terrorist organisation, led a conspiracy on this country to cause lethal explosions in the United Stated of America and in the United Kingdom. That conspiracy was frustrated by the defendant's arrest in August 2004."
He continued: "The criminal plot was to carry out massive explosions here and in the US. The principal object was to kill hundreds if not thousands of innocent people without warning.
"There were subsidiary and collateral objectives for example to destroy or damage property, injure and terrorise people, including the use or threat of radiation or dirty bombs and to case widespread disruption."
Barot was brought to the UK from India as a baby and the family settled in north west London.
He converted from Hinduism to Islam at the age of 20 and even wrote a book called Army Of Medina based on the author reverting to Islam.
After leaving Kingsbury High School he took a City & Guilds qualification in tourism and between 1991 and 1995 worked as an airline ticket clerk at Piccadilly station.
He failed in his request to transfer to Heathrow airport and left the UK in September 1995 to attend a terrorist training camp in Pakistan where he "received instruction in the use of weapons, explosives and other terrorist related activities."
Aside from a short job as a night porter responsible for security at a luxury apartment block in London, he did not work. Neither did he receive any benefits.
Mr Lawson said: "The inference is that someone or some organisation was supporting him financially."
Barot admitted one count of conspiracy to murder between January 1st 2000 and August 4th 2004. Seven other people are due to face trial next next year.
The court was told this morning that Barot had drawn up a plan of death and destruction and in early 2004 flew to Pakistan to "present the plan for approval and costing".
The UK "Gas Limos Project" (GLP) involved a number of well known London hotels and railway stations and was "the culmination of Barot's murderous plans."
Mr Lawson said: "The principal attack involved packing three limousines with gas cylinders and explosives and then detonating the devices in underground car parks, under buildings. Whilst Barot spoke of having specific targets in mind, he did not identify the specific targets in the proposal.
"Documents plainly referable to reconnaissance of London hotels and mainland railway stations."
Alongside this plan was a dirty bomb plot in which Barot would use a radioactive device on the rail or underground network.
Specific targets included the Heathrow Express train or a tube train whilst it went under the Thames, possibly around Greenwich.
Mr Lawson said: "Barot suggested that there should be other attacks at other also unidentified locations in this country. He set out within the proposals plans for the detonation of a radiation dispersal device - more commonly known as a dirty bomb - the use of a petrol tanker to cause an explosion and an attack on the rail or underground network.
"Barot suggested as possible targets the Heathrow Express or an explosion on a tube train whilst in a tunnel under the Thames.
"As to the last, he wrote 'imagine the chaos that would be caused if a powerful explosion were to rip through here and actually rupture the river itself. This would cause pandemonium, what with the explosions, flooding, drowning etc that would result."
The US plot was initially planned for 2000/2001, but shelved after 9/11 "in consequence as what the terrorists regarded as a success."
However, the plans were not forgotten and would have included possibly "hijacking petrol tankers or igniting gas cylinders or using aeroplanes."
Barot, who appeared in the dock sporting a short goatee beard, carried out reconnaissance missions and the court was told he corresponded with others using a code which has not been fully cracked.
Barot used a pay phone and corresponded with others using three email addresses. Some of his co-conspirators were also told to use and internet cafe in Swansea, Wales, to evade capture. The court was also told that Barot had a tendency to "lose his passport" and went by a number of aliases.
Barot and his co-conspirators were arrested in August 2004 by armed officers after an intense counter-terrorism operation.
He refused to answer questions for two weeks and a police raid revealed stashes of computers and hardware equipment alongside notes on molotof, napalm and phospherous bombs. alongside information about how to blow up a bridge, how to evade capture, and research about arson and gas explosions.
Barot is the first Muslim terrorist to be sentenced for conspiracy to murder.
The hearing, expected to last two days, continues
Another deadly convert.
Islamic = trouble. Without fail. And the world keeps letting them in, and pandering to them. What a crock.
Our border security is badly broken because the systems in place (container shipping, etc.) were never designed to be completely secure (because at that time there was little reason to). This is a case where reverse engineering will not work.
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