Terror plot targeted Air Canada flights, trial told

by Barry ORegan | April 3, 2008 at 03:42 am

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Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
Certainly Canada's complacency that "It couldn't happen here" is put to rest as Terrorists in London, much like the 17 accused in Canada who are currently on trial for planning on beheading our Prime Minister and blowing up targets in Ontario, the terrorists quoted as saying the bombing of innocents is their priority is unfortunately turning once a complacent Canada from a "Stand on Guard for Thee" to "Guarding against Terrorism ". something unheard of a decade ago. Guarding against our own Citizens whose wish to turn peaceful Canada into a Terrorist's next Target to make a religious stand from other lands.

Terror plot targeted Air Canada flights, trial toldIAN MACLEOD, Canwest News ServicePublished: 5 hours ago
Two Air Canada flights were targeted in an alleged terror plot to use liquid explosives to destroy a fleet of transatlantic jetliners leaving London, a British court heard yesterday.

The Canadian connection emerged during the first day of jury selection for the trial of eight Britons accused in the alleged August 2006 conspiracy.

The defendants are charged with conspiring to murder others and endanger aircraft on flights to the United States and Canada. They deny two charges linked to an alleged plot to blow up airliners, which counter-terrorist police claim to have foiled.

"This concerns an allegation that in 2006 a number of men planned to create bombs which some of their number would take on board passenger aircraft flying from London Heathrow to various destinations in Canada and the U.S.A," Justice David Calvert-Smith told the potential jurors.

Liquid explosives hidden in drink containers were to be smuggled in carry-on luggage aboard Canada- and U.S.-bound flights leaving Heathrow Airport, authorities said. The peroxide-based liquid explosives were to be assembled in flight, with detonators disguised as everyday electronic devices like camera flashes.

It is believed the bombers planned to inflict a maximum loss of life by blowing up the aircraft over the Atlantic or above major cities, including New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

The Canadian flights targeted were to fly to Montreal and Toronto.At the time of the men's arrests, Canadian transport officials said there were no direct security threats to Canada.reuters and agence france-presse contributed to this report