UK trial for 8 airplane bomb plot suspects not expected until 2008: prosecutor News
UK trial for 8 airplane bomb plot suspects not expected until 2008: prosecutor

[JURIST] Eight men allegedly involved in a plot to blow up US-bound planes [JURIST report] leaving a London airport will probably not go to trial until 2008, prosecutor Colin Gibbs told the Central Criminal Court [official website] during a brief hearing in London Monday. It is unclear why they will not be brought to trial sooner. All eight defendants are charged with conspiracy to murder under the Criminal Law Act 1977 and planning to smuggle "component parts of improvised explosive devices" onto airplanes under the Terrorism Act 2006 [text]. None of the eight applied for bail during Monday's hearing. AP has more. BBC News has additional coverage.

Meanwhile, UK police [official website] are holding an additional 14 suspected terrorists arrested Friday and Saturday without charge. Police were given more time Sunday to question those suspects, who police believe are running terrorist training camps across Britain but are not linked to last month's foiled terror plot. In the past two weeks, officials have charged 15 [JURIST report] in relation to the airline plot; five have been released and five are being held without charge. Police have one more week to question [JURIST report] those five. Under the 2006 anti-terror law, police are allowed to hold suspects for up to 28 days before they must be charged or released. AP has more.