Three More Charged in Alleged Bomb Plot

Three British Muslims arrested during an investigation of an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliners were charged Tuesday with conspiracy to murder and commit acts of terrorism, police said.

Mohammed Yasar Gulzar, Mohammed Shamin Uddin, 35, and Nabeel Hussain, 22, brought to 15 the number of people charged in connection with the case and to 11 those facing the most serious charges.

The other four were charged with lesser offenses, such as failing to disclose knowledge of terrorist activity.

The 11 are accused of plotting to smuggle parts of homemade bombs onto planes, then build the bombs and detonate them.

British police announced Aug. 10 that they had thwarted a plot by militants to blow up several U.S.-bound airliners over the Atlantic by smuggling materials to make explosives aboard.

The three men charged Tuesday were to appear at a magistrates’ court in central London this morning.

All of those in custody are British Muslims and most are of Pakistani origin. Five people in custody have not been charged. Detectives have until tonight to decide whether to charge them, let them go or ask for more time to question them.

According to news reports, Hussain is the brother of Umair Hussain and Mehran Hussain, both charged with failing to disclose information that could have prevented a terrorist attack.

Pakistani authorities also have arrested several people, including two Britons, in the investigation.