Fury as terrorists plotting to kill thousands blowing up planes set for release

Fury has erupted after three terrorists linked to the notorious 2006 plot to bring down transatlantic passenger planes could be released from prison within weeks.

Ibrahim Savant, Arafat Waheed Khan and Waheed Zaman were convicted of conspiracy to murder after becoming involved in an al-Qaeda-inspired plot that prosecutors said was intended to cause mass casualties.

All three were handed life sentences with minimum terms of 20 years and are now eligible to have their cases considered by the Parole Board.

Zaman is due to have his case considered on September 7, followed by Khan on September 21. Savant’s hearing is listed for November 12.

If the Parole Board decides they can be safely managed in the community, the men could potentially be released before Christmas.

The prospect has prompted anger from politicians and counter-terrorism figures, with critics questioning how individuals involved in a plot designed to kill innocent members of the public could ever be considered safe for release.

Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf said the public would be “rightly appalled” by the prospect of the men returning to the streets and argued that those convicted of conspiracy to commit mass murder should remain behind bars for life.

Tory Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy similarly described the possibility of their release as “unconscionable”, saying the public would be outraged if the men were freed.

The original conspiracy triggered one of the biggest security crises in British aviation history.

Police moved against the plotters on August 10, 2006, amid fears an attack could be imminent. The UK terror threat level was raised to critical and strict restrictions were introduced at airports, causing huge disruption during the peak summer holiday period.

Thousands of passengers were caught in lengthy queues as restrictions were imposed on hand luggage. British Airways cancelled 1,280 flights over eight days and later estimated that the disruption had cost the airline around £40million.

The plot ultimately transformed airport security around the world.

New restrictions were introduced limiting the amount of liquid passengers could carry through security, leading to the now-familiar 100ml containers and clear plastic bags.

Passengers were forced to leave bottles of water and other liquids behind at security, while toiletries including shampoo, toothpaste, perfume and suncream were routinely transferred into travel-sized containers.

Airports have since invested heavily in advanced screening technology, with newer scanners allowing some of the restrictions to be eased.

But the scale of the alleged 2006 conspiracy was far more serious than the inconvenience it caused travellers.

The plot centred on plans to attack several passenger aircraft travelling from Britain to North America. Investigators uncovered evidence suggesting the operation could have involved multiple suicide bombers.

Several suspects also recorded so-called martyrdom videos in preparation for the planned attacks.

At the centre of the conspiracy was Abdulla Ahmed Ali, alongside fellow plotters Assad Sarwar and Tanvir Hussain. They were convicted of conspiring to murder passengers by carrying out attacks on transatlantic aircraft.

Ali received a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years, while Sarwar was given a minimum term of 36 years and Hussain 32 years.

Another conspirator, Umar Islam, was convicted of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years.

The cases involving Savant, Khan and Zaman were more complicated.

They were initially cleared of the specific charge of conspiring to blow up aircraft after prosecutors failed to prove that they knew the intended targets were airliners.

However, prosecutors argued that evidence showed the three had committed themselves to taking part in a murderous suicide attack.

A retrial was subsequently authorised, and in 2010 a third jury convicted all three of conspiracy to murder.

Sentencing them to life imprisonment, Mr Justice Holroyde told the men that each had agreed to participate in a conspiracy with the intention of killing members of the public and themselves.

Almost two decades later, their cases are once again attracting attention as they become eligible for parole consideration.

Ghaffar Hussain, a former counter-terror officer who worked on the Government’s Prevent programme, warned that assessing the risk posed by former terrorists can be extremely difficult.

He argued that life sentences for people who intended to kill large numbers of innocent people should mean lifelong imprisonment, warning that released terrorists have reoffended in the past.

The Parole Board has stressed that public protection remains its overriding priority.

A spokesperson said reviews are conducted “thoroughly and with extreme care” and that protecting the public is the board’s “number one priority”.

The three men have not been automatically granted release. Their cases must first be assessed by the Parole Board, which will consider whether they can safely be managed outside prison.