Foiled London Plot: 11 Charged

ByABC News
August 21, 2006, 3:09 PM

August 21, 2006 --

A Terrorist's Network
Rashid Rauf, the 25-year-old Pakistani-born, British-raised baker's son fingered as the central figure in the foiled plot to bomb U.S.-bound flights from London, has been described as friendly and ordinary. But Pakistani security officials familiar with Rauf's interrogation tell TIME that the plan's real mastermind may be anything but--the man who gave Rauf his marching orders is believed to be a senior al-Qaeda operative who may be a top aide to the terrorist group's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahiri. (Times Magazine)

Rauf Confessed Qaeda Link, Claims Sherpao
Rashid Rauf, a key accused in the alleged plot to blow up US-bound passenger airliners from Britain, has confessed to association with Al Qaeda, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told journalists at a local hotel on Sunday. (Daily Times)

'Son-in-Law of Zawahiri Was Mastermind'
A son-in-law of Al Qaeda No 2 Dr Ayman Al-Zawahiri is believed to be the mastermind of the plot to blow up transatlantic flights and he met one or some of the plotters at a place close to the Pakistan-Afghan border, credible sources told Dawn. (Dawn)

Special Counsel Orders an Investigation of the Federal Air Marshal Service
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has ordered the Secretary of Homeland Security to investigate the Federal Air Marshal Service based on a whistleblower's allegations. (ABC News)

Three U.S. Troops Killed in Iraq
Three members of a U.S. Marine unit were killed in action in western Iraq on Sunday, the U.S. military said in a statement. (Reuters)

Defiant Saddam Refuses to Enter a Plea
Saddam Hussein opened his second trial with a show of defiance Monday, refusing to enter a plea on charges of genocide and war crimes connected to his scorched-earth offensive against Kurds nearly two decades ago. (AP)