Briton admits bomb plot against NYSE

A Briton arrested amid a massive US security alert two years ago admitted in a London court yesterday to plotting to blow up financial targets in the United States and carry out "dirty bomb" attacks in Britain.

Dhiren Barot, a Muslim convert, admitted to plotting to blow up the headquarters of the New York Stock Exchange, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Citigroup and Prudential in Washington, New Jersey and New York.

"Explosions at these premises were clearly designed to kill as many people as possible," said prosecuting lawyer Edmund Lawson.

Amid tight security at Woolwich Crown Court in South London, Mr Barot pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder and prosecutors outlined the details of his confession. Mr Barot, looking relaxed and typing on a lap-top, spoke only to affirm his guilt.

Apart from the US plot, he planned to hit British targets in a conspiracy called the "Gas Limos Project", which "involved parking three limos with gas cylinders with explosives and detonating them in underground car parks," Mr Lawson said.

And he admitted another plan to detonate at least one "dirty bomb" contaminated with radiological material in Britain. The prosecution said Mr Barot claimed the dirty bomb was not designed to kill but "rather to cause injury, fear, terror and chaos".

Under Britain's tight media laws, the judge ordered that further details of the conspiracy not be reported to prevent prejudicing the trials of any future defendants.

The plans did not seem to have reached an advanced stage. The prosecution said it accepted Mr Barot's assertion that no funding, vehicles or bomb making equipment had been in place.

"We are happy to confirm that because it's a true statement of fact," said Mr Lawson.