5 men in trans-Atlantic bomb case admit to lesser charge of conspiracy

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Five men accused of plotting to detonate liquid explosives on board trans-Atlantic passenger jets have pleaded guilty to lesser charges but maintain they never planned to destroy airliners, a jury was told Monday. Prosecutors say the five, along with three other defendants, wanted to kill hundreds of passengers by detonating bombs concealed in soft-drink bottles as their flights crossed the Atlantic Ocean or passed over North American cities. Prosecutors say they were close to carrying out their plan when they were arrested in August 2006 and that they had created "martyrdom" videos to be shown after the suicide-bombings were carried out. The unraveling of the alleged plot quickly led to tough new restrictions on the amount of liquids and gels airline passengers could take in their carry-on luggage - restrictions which remain in place.