9 remanded in custody over UK bomb plot

LONDON: Nine men were remanded in custody in Britain on Monday charged with planning attacks in a pre-Christmas plot reportedly targeting the London Stock Exchange and US embassy.

The men appeared at London's City of Westminster Magistrates Court on charges of conspiring to cause explosions "of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property" between October 1 and November 20 this year.

The suspects, aged between 19 and 28, also face charges of involvement in the preparation of an attack by having downloaded and researched methods and materials, and of scouting potential targets.

At least five of the men, who were arrested a week ago in pre-dawn raids, are of Bangladeshi origin.

British media reported that police investigators believe the potential targets in the days before Christmas included the London Stock Exchange and the US embassy, as well as political and religious figures.

In court, each man spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address, before District Judge Howard Riddle remanded them to appear at the Old Bailey court in London on January 14.

The men were arrested on December 20 when police raided properties in Birmingham, London, Cardiff and the central town of Stoke-on-Trent.

The raids took place after several months of surveillance and monitoring by police and intelligence officers.

A dozen suspects were arrested but three were subsequently released.