Brit Terror Suspects Targeted US Embassy, Big Ben

Suspected terrorists charged yesterday in a British court were targeting the US embassy in London—as well as the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the London Stock Exchange—for a bomb attack in the days before Christmas, according to prosecutors. Reconnaissance notes for the sites and al-Qaeda propaganda leaflets were found among the belongings of the 9 men charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion and conduct in preparation for terrorism, officials said. Ironically, one reconnaissance visit to some of the sites ended with a trip to McDonald's for a bite to eat, the court was told.

The men, nabbed in various locations in England earlier this month, were inspired by the teachings of radical Yemini cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki, who supports violent jihad against the West, reports the Telegraph. Beginning in October, the men downloaded information from the internet, checked out possible targets, and tested bombs while “unlawfully and maliciously” conspiring to “endanger life or cause serious injury” with one or more explosions, the prosecutor said. The men, all native Bangladeshis, will appear in court again next month.
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