Husband guilty, wife freed in UK terrorism trial

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) A British man was convicted on terrorism-related charges on Friday but his Dutch wife walked free after a six-week trial at London's Old Bailey court.

Yassin Nassari, 28, was found guilty of possessing documents likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, but cleared of a graver charge of possessing articles for terrorist purposes.

His Dutch wife, Bouchra El-Hor, 24, was acquitted of failing to disclose information to police that she knew or believed could have prevented Nassari from committing a terrorist act.

The charges related to computer files on the hard drive of Nassari's computer -- including plans for building a missile -- which were found when the couple were arrested at Luton airport, near London, in May 2006.

Among the evidence produced in court was a letter written by El-Hor to Nassari in which she wrote she was proud of him and happy that Allah had granted him the chance to be a shaheed (martyr) in the cause of jihad, or holy war.

She told the jury the letter was a work of fiction, based on a story she had read, and had never been meant for her husband to read. The couple have a young son.

It was the fourth terrorism trial in just over a week to conclude in Britain, where security services say militant Islamists pose a continuous and growing threat.

The spate of cases coincides with investigations into three failed car bombings in London and Scotland late last month, which authorities suspect may be linked to al Qaeda.

REUTERS ARB RAI2132