Terrorists planned to blow up seven transatlantic airliners

London, Feb. 18 (ANI): A Britain-based terror cell conspired to blow-up seven transatlantic airliners and kill thousands of people by planting suicide bombers on board, a court was told on Tuesday.

The Woolwich Crown Court was told that the plot was hatched by terrorist leaders in Pakistan, but was to be carried out by young Islamist fanatics from East London and High Wycombe.

Buckinghamshire conspirators planned to smuggle liquid bombs constructed from soft drinks bottles and batteries on to seven flights that would leave Heathrow within hours of each other. All seven flights would have been in air at the same time when the bombs exploded, The Times reports.

Eight men are charged with conspiracy to murder but the court was told that the plan might have involved up to 18 suicide bombers.

"They were prepared to strike a blow in which they would lose their lives but it was a blow that would reverberate across the globe. These men were indifferent to the carnage that was likely to ensue if their plans were successful," said Peter Wright, QC, for the prosecution.

"To them the identities of the victims were irrelevant by race, colour, religion or creed. What these men intended to bring about together and with others was a violent and deadly statement of intent that would have a truly global impact," he added.

The plot was thwarted in August 2006 when two of the cell's alleged ringleaders Abdulla Ahmed Ali and Assad Sarwar were arrested in the car park of Walthamstow town hall..

A computer memory stick was also recovered from one of the terrorist's pocket, which contained details of the seven flights to the United States and Canada.

Police also found videotape in Sarwar's car, in which two of the alleged plotters had recorded martyrdom messages and six other men on trial had left suicide messages. All had been filmed at a flat in Forest Road, Walthamstow, which was the cell's base.

The seven "targeted" flights were: 1415 United Airlines Flight 931 to San Francisco, 1500 Air Canada Flight 849 to Toronto, 1515 Air Canada Flight 865 to Montreal, 1540 United Airlines Flight 959 to Chicago, 1620 United Airlines Flight 925 to Washington, 1635 American Airlines Flight 139 to New York, 1650 American Airlines Flight 91 to Chicago. (ANI)