Airplane bomb plot suspects appear in UK court News
Airplane bomb plot suspects appear in UK court

[JURIST] Eleven suspects charged [JURIST report; BBC charge list] in connection with the foiled terror plot [JURIST report] to bomb airplanes crossing the Atlantic Ocean appeared in a UK court for the first time Tuesday. Eight defendants were remanded in custody until a hearing on September 4, two were remanded until September 19, and the last, a 17-year-old-boy, was remanded until August 29. Eight men are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and with preparing acts of terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 [text]. Three other people are charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 [text], one with possession of articles useful to a person preparing an act of terrorism, and two with failing to disclose information of material assistance in preventing an act of terrorism. BBC News has more.

The trial is expected to commence next year and officials predict it will be one of the largest and most expensive trials ever to occur in the UK. The trial will most likely take place in Woolwich Crown Court, a high-security court in south London. UK Home Secretary John Reid [official profile] and UK Attorney General Lord Goldsmith [official profile] have asked the media to "exercise considerable restraint" in reporting about the trial until it commences so as to not create any prejudice. The Independent has additional coverage.