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| Britain |
| Algerian al-Qaeda suspect convicted |
| 2005-11-24 |
| An Algerian man with suspected al-Qaeda links has been found guilty of downloading information on how to blow-up a passenger jet. Abbas Boutrab, 27, was arrested in Newtownabbey, near north Belfast, over suspected immigration offences. Police later found computer discs with downloaded bomb-making instructions. Boutrab had denied the terror charges. Crown Court judge Mr Justice Weatherup said the information could have been of use to Islamic terrorists. He also said that modifications made to the circuitry on a cassette player indicated intent. "I am satisfied that his possession of the material was not out of curiosity but was for terrorist purposes," the judge said. Boutrab has spent the last two-and-a-half years on remand in Maghaberry Prison. During the trial the court heard computer discs containing instructions on how to make explosives for use on board aeroplanes, and how to carry out an attack, were found at his flat in the Whitehouse area of Whiteabbey. Details on how to make a silencer for an assault rifle were also found as were a number of false identities and passports. Boutrab was tried under the Diplock system, where a judge in a terrorist case sits without a jury. He will be sentenced next month. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |