Special Report: Major UK air terror plot thwarted    

The combine photo on Aug. 21, 2006 shows the police searching the homes of suspects.  (Xinhua/AFP Photo)Photo Gallery >>>

    LONDON, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- London police charged 11 people on Monday in connection with the alleged terror plot at London's Heathrow Airport to blow up several transatlantic airliners on Aug.10.

    Peter Clarke, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, said at a press conference that eight people were charged with conspiracy to murder and preparing acts of terrorism.

    Three other suspects, one of whom is a 17-year-old, were charged with other offenses under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Peter Clarke, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Metropolitan Police attends a press conference in London, August 21, 2006. London police charged 11 people on Monday in connection with the alleged terror plot at London's Heathrow Airport.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    The bomb-making equipment, including chemicals and electrical components, had been found, he said, adding that a number of video recordings known as "martyrdom videos" had also been recovered.

    Susan Hemming, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service Counter Terrorism Division, said "We have been carefully examining and assessing the evidence against each individual with the assistance of anti-terrorist officers in order to come to charging decisions at the earliest practicable opportunity."

    The investigation scale was "immense", Clarke said, adding that police had made 69 searches of houses, flats and businesses, vehicles and open spaces.

    They had also checked more than 400 computers, 200 mobile phones, 8,000 computers and such media items as memory sticks, CDs and DVDs, he added.

    "The threat from terrorism is real. It is there, it is deadly and it is enduring," he said, pledging that they would do everything possible to ensure the people lead a life "without being in constant fear." Enditem