Transatlantic airliners bombing plot mastermind roaming free on British streets

London, Sep. 13 (ANI): An alleged co-plotter of transatlantic airliners bombing plot is roaming free on British streets.

Security sources have expressed serious concern about the activities of the 28-year-old man who is now living in Birmingham with his family.

"There is no doubt in my mind this man is potentially very dangerous," The Telegraph quoted a senior security officer as saying.

Although three of Britain's home grown terrorists were convicted last week for planning to kill thousands of people, the man who is a close friend of the ringleader, Rashid Rauf, was acquitted of all charges a year ago due to lack of evidence against him.

Police investigating the liquid bomb plot were forced to cut short when Rashid Rauf was arrested in Pakistan under pressure from the US.

The early curtailment of the evidence-gathering mission has raised fears that police in Britain may not have had all the time they needed to collect the evidence necessary to prosecute the case successfully.

The accused jihadist was accused during his trial of flying to Britain from South Africa to oversee the final stages of the plot.

Reportedly, he held several covert meetings with - and also telephoned - Abdulla Ahmed Ali and Assad Sarwar, who were convicted last week of the plot in which bombs disguised as drinks were to be smuggled on to flights.

It is being speculated that he may be living under a strict control order.

"You can certainly be sure he is under close surveillance," said one source.

According to the paper, he may now face further charges after the emergence of emails between the three convicted men - Ali, Sarwar and Tanvir Hussain - and their Pakistan handler, thought to be Rauf. (ANI)