The first of 11 British Muslims appeared in a London court today to be formally charged over an alleged plot to blow up US-bound airliners in mid-flight.
Three defendants - Mr Abdullah Ahmed Ali, Mr Waheed Arafat Khan, and Mr Umar Islam - spoke only to confirm their names and addresses. A fourth, Mr Tanvir Hussain, said he had no permanent address.
They are among eight people charged with conspiracy to murder by detonating home-made explosives on planes. One other person is charged with possessing items useful for terrorism and two for failing to report the plot.
Suspects charged with conspiring to blow up airplanes arriving at court today
Mr Hussein's lawyer told the courtroom at Westminster Magistrates Court that "all allegations are denied". Lawyers for the other three made no comment about a plea.
The four men, flanked by five uniformed security guards, were ordered held until further hearings on September 4th.
British police said on August 10th they had foiled a plot to blow up planes in mid-Atlantic, alleging that the suspected plotters' goal was "mass murder on an unimaginable scale".
Prosecutors announced yesterday they were charging 11 people after police reportedly found bomb-making equipment, suicide notes and "martyrdom videos".
No decision has yet been taken on whether to charge another 11 people who are still being held.
As many as 17 more people, including at least two British nationals, are being held in Pakistan over the suspected plot.