Air accused 'targeted Terminal 3'

A man accused of leading a plot to blow up passenger planes has admitted planning to set off an explosive device at an airport.

Abdullah Ahmed Ali, 27, told Woolwich Crown Court he had initially wanted to target Parliament, but abandoned the idea because security was too tight.

He said he was particularly interested in Heathrow Terminal 3 because it was used by several American airlines.

Mr Ali is one of eight men who deny conspiring to blow up planes in 2006.

Prosecutors claim the defendants planned to make hydrogen peroxide bombs disguised as soft drinks to detonate in mid-air on at least seven transatlantic passenger planes flying out of Heathrow airport.

But Mr Ali said the group considered setting off devices outside airline offices, but never planned to board a plane.

He said by late July 2006, he suspected they were under surveillance so put his plan on hold.