BRITAIN: British terror suspects charged in a plot linked to security alerts at US financial targets in New York, New Jersey and Washington made their first court appearance yesterday inside a high-security prison.
Each of the eight men was flanked by two armed guards as they were brought into a court at London's Belmarsh prison. They were held in the dock behind glass. Journalists said the security was unprecedented.
A police helicopter hovered overhead as the men were driven to the prison in police vans with armed escorts. The suspects were detained until they are appear in a week's time at the Old Bailey criminal court.
They will be given a chance at a later date to enter a plea to charges of conspiracy to commit murder and to use explosives, chemicals or radioactive materials to cause disruption, fear or injury.
Mr Dhiren Barot (32) was also accused of having plans for four financial targets that were the subject of US alerts - the Prudential building in New Jersey, the New York Stock Exchange and Citigroup headquarters in New York, and the International Monetary Fund in Washington.
The other suspects are Mr Omar Abdur Rehman (20), Mr Zia Ul Haq (25), Mr Abdul Aziz Jalil (31), Mr Nadeem Tarmohamed (26), Mr Mohammed Naveed Bhatti (24), Mr Quaisir Shaffi (25) and Mr Junade Feroze (28).
US officials have said they believe one of the men may be a top al-Qaeda operative in Britain.
A ninth man arrested with them also appeared on charges of possessing an illegal firearm. He pleaded not guilty and was freed on bail.
Britain has arrested more than 600 terror suspects since the September 11th attacks but has charged fewer than 100 and convicted only 15 of terrorism offences.
The raids two weeks ago - carried out in evident haste after the US alert, with some suspects pulled from shops and others held in a high-speed car chase - had a more urgent tone than previous anti-terrorism swoops.
Seán O'Driscoll in New York adds: The World Bank in Washington, one target in the alleged conspiracy, welcomed news of the men's court appearances.
Spokesman Mr Damian Milverton told The Irish Times that there was a sense of relief among staff that the court case would proceed, as today marks the first anniversary of the terrorist attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad, in which one World Bank employee was killed and five were seriously injured.
"We are seeing the terrain change in developing countries in the last 18 months, for ourselves and for non-governmental organisations," Mr Milverton said, "so we welcome any move by the authorities to increase global security."
The bank has increased the number of security officers and the level of security at the entry to the building, including the car parks.
Mr Mike Hanretta, a spokesman for the Prudential Financial Group in Newark, New Jersey, another alleged target, said the company has been reviewing security at its offices around the world since news of the alleged terrorist conspiracy emerged at the start of the month.
Newark police have set up metal fences surrounding the Prudential Plaza building in recent weeks and have blocked off two city streets.
The New Jersey governor, Mr James McGreevey, has asked the public to report suspicious activity, but said people should follow their normal routines.
A spokesman for the New York Stock Exchange also said it could not comment on the case, but visible security at the exchange has increased since the start of the month. Public tours were stopped two years ago to prevent a possible terrorist attack.