Making the case

last updated 8 January 2015

London

British authorities this week formally charged 11 British-born Muslims—nearly all of them ethnic Pakistanis—in the alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound airplanes. Eleven other suspects who remain in custody have not yet been charged. Police said they found chemicals, bomb-making equipment, and “martyrdom videos” among the suspects’ possessions; they also confiscated 200 cell phones, 400 computers, and thousands of discs and DVDs. “The meticulous investigation of all this material will take many months,” said police chief Peter Clarke. “Fingerprints, DNA, electronic data, handwriting comparisons, chemical analysis, and indeed the full range of forensic disciplines will be used.” Officials said it would be at least two years before the case comes to trial.