Operation Overt - Statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions
10 September 2008
Regina V Abdulla Ahmed Ali [aka Ahmed Ali Khan], Assad Sarwar, Tanvir Hussain, Ibrahim Savant, Arafat Waheed Khan, Waheed Zaman and Umar Islam [aka Brian Young]
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald QC, has issued the following statement:
"I have carefully considered this case with the Head of my Counter Terrorism Division and with counsel.
"I have today concluded that the prosecution should apply to retry each of these defendants on every count that the recently discharged jury failed to agree upon. This will include a count that each defendant conspired to detonate improvised explosive devices on transatlantic passenger aircraft.
"We shall be returning to court to make this application in due course."
The CPS would like to remind media organisations of the need to take great care in reporting the events surrounding this alleged plot. These remain allegations only and, if retrials take place, the defendants have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be responsible media reporting which does not prejudice the due process of law.
Notes to Editors
- The application will seek a retrial for the following offences:
- Count 1
Statement of offence
CONSPIRACY TO MURDER contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
Particulars of offence
ABDULLA AHMED ALI [aka AHMED ALI KHAN], ASSAD SARWAR, TANVIR HUSSAIN, IBRAHIM SAVANT, ARAFAT WAHEED KHAN, WAHEED ZAMAN and UMAR ISLAM [aka BRIAN YOUNG] between the 1st day of January 2006 and the 11th day of August 2006 conspired together and with others to murder persons unknown by the detonation of improvised explosive devices on board transatlantic passenger aircraft.
- Count 1A
Statement of offence
CONSPIRACY TO MURDER contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
Particulars of offence
IBRAHIM SAVANT, ARAFAT WAHEED KHAN, WAHEED ZAMAN and UMAR ISLAM [aka BRIAN YOUNG] between the 1st day of January 2006 and the 11th day of August 2006 conspired together and with Abdulla Ahmed Ali [aka Ahmed Ali Khan], Assad Sarwar, Tanvir Hussain and others to murder persons unknown.
- Count 1
- Media enquiries to CPS Press Office on 020 7796 8079.
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