Trio charged in PM death plot probe

1:23am Friday 29th August 2008

Three men questioned about an alleged plot to assassinate Gordon Brown have been charged with terror offences, Lancashire Police said.

The men were arrested at Manchester Airport and Accrington, Lancashire, on August 14.

Ishaq Kanmi, 22, of Cromwell Street, Blackburn, is charged with soliciting murder, belonging or professing to belong to al Qaida, inviting support for al Qaida, and dissemination of terrorist publications.

Brothers Abbas Iqbal, 23, and Ilyas Iqbal, 21, both of Percival Street, Blackburn, are both charged with possession of an article in circumstances which give rise to a reasonable suspicion that possession is for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

Abbas Iqbal is also charged with dissemination of terrorist publications.

Ilyas Iqbal is also charged with collecting or making a record of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

Police sources indicated the charge of soliciting murder referred to an alleged plot to murder the Prime Minister. The men will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday.

Police are continuing to question two other men in relation to the alleged assassination plot.

It is understood no actual plot was in place but that officers discovered a written threat on an extremist jihadi website earlier this year.