Jet bomb plot suspects go on trial

LONDON, England (CNN) -- The trial was due to begin on Thursday of eight British men accused of plotting to explode bombs on transatlantic airliners.

British prosecutors allege the group planned a series of coordinated suicide attacks on planes bound for the United States and Canada in 2006.

A police inquiry into the alleged plot and tighter restrictions on the items that airline passengers can carry onto planes caused widespread disruption to flights in Britain.

Outlining the case to potential jurors on Wednesday, Judge David Calvert-Smith said the trial at high-security Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London would be long, high profile and complex.

He said: "This case 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 USA.

"It is further alleged that the bombs were planned to be set off when the aircraft were airborne and the bombers and all on board the aircraft would be killed."

All eight men deny two charges linked to the alleged plot that anti-terrorist police said they foiled in August 2006.

The first charge alleges the men conspired to murder, contrary to the 1977 Criminal law Act, between January 1 and August 11, 2006.

The second charge alleges the men conspired to commit an act of violence likely to endager the safety of an aircraft between those dates.

The eight men on trial are: Abdulla Ahmed Ali, aka Ahmed Ali Khan, 27, of Walthamstow, Assad Sarwar, 27, of High Wycombe, Tanvir Hussain, 27, of Leyton, east London, Mohammed Gulzar, 26, of Barking, Essex, Ibrahim Savant, 27, of Stoke Newington, north London, Arafat Waheed Khan, 26, of Walthamstow, Waheed Zaman, 23, of Walthamstow and Umar Islam, aka Brian Young, 29, of Hackney, east London. E-mail to a friend