Arrested last week, three men, North African, Tunisian and something else--Algerian maybe--weree going to release cyanide gas on the London Underground.

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2002

Answers

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TUBE 'CYANIDE PLOT' Three men have been charged over an alleged terrorist plot to release cyanide gas on the London Underground tube network.

The men are north African muslims said to belong to a group linked to al Qaeda.

The alleged plot was foiled after the group was infiltrated by MI5 agents in a six month operation.

Six men were arrested in London. Three were charged under Section 57 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for the possession of articles for the preparation, instigation and commission of terrorism acts.

The three are thought to be of either Tunisian or Moroccan background and belong to a group called the North African Front, said to have loose connections with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

Custody

One man appeared before Bow Street Magistrates Court, in central London, last Monday. Two more appeared in the court on Tuesday.

They were remanded in custody and will re-appear in court on Monday November 18.

Details of the hearing have only just emerged in reports in The Sunday Times newspaper.

Assistant editor Nicholas Rufford told Sky News: "There were six arrests originally, three people were released, only three were charged.

"And those have been charged under section 57 of the Act which relates to carrying articles which could be used for terrorist purposes.

"My understanding is that no chemical or bomb-making equipment was recovered. So that suggests that the equipment or the materials may still be out there and as far as I understand the investigation is continuing.

Bomb

"The plan, I believe, was to bring the ingredients of a gas bomb into the country. As far as I know, as far as I understand, the materials never arrived.

"Certainly if they did arrive they haven't yet been found or intercepted."

Scotland Yard confirmed three men were charged but refused to comment on details of the case.

A London Underground spokeswoman would not comment on the arrests but urged travellers to be vigilant.

An average of around 3.25million passengers use the underground every day.

Government sources denied last week's warning by Prime Minister Tony Blair about the terrorist threat to Britain was linked to the alleged plot. Last Updated: 23:20 UK, Saturday November 16, 2002

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2002

charged with possession, but nothing was seized.

doesn't make sense. especially with three of the six let go. Were they let go so as to get the stuff?

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2002