Terror Suspect Is Key Scotland Yard Adviser

Briefed military last night, will reveal number and other details tomorrow

(NEWSER) - After weeks of deliberation, President Obama has settled on a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan and ordered the military to carry it out. The exact size of the troop escalation has not been announced, but sources put the number in the neighborhood of 30,000 more troops. The president started informing military leaders last night and will explain his plan in detail in a national speech tomorrow from the US Military Academy at West Point. More»

(NEWSER) - The three men convicted of plotting to smuggle liquid bombs onto trans-Atlantic flights all received life sentences in British court today, with minimum terms ranging between 32 and 40 years, the BBC reports. The judge said the attack aspired to “stand alongside” the 9/11 attacks, calling it “the most grave and wicked conspiracy ever proven within this jurisdiction.” More»

Planned use of liquid explosives sparked restrictions still in effect

(NEWSER) - Three British Muslims were convicted today of conspiracy to blow up airplanes with liquid explosives in a failed 2006 plot that led to restrictions on drinks and toiletries on flights, the Times of London reports. Ringleader Abdulla Ahmed Ali, Assad Sarwar, and Tanvir Hussain were retried after a jury last year found them guilty only of conspiracy to cause explosions in a plot to place suicide bombers on at least seven flights from Heathrow to the US and Canada. More»

He walks with secret file in open view; arrests are sped up

(NEWSER) - One of Britain's top counter-terrorism officials may want to invest in a briefcase. The official, Bob Quick, showed up for a meeting at 10 Downing Street and walked by photographers carrying documents clearly marked "Secret" that outlined the government's plan to bust a suspected al-Qaeda cell, the Telegraph reports. When the photos became public and compromised the investigation, Scotland Yard immediately arrested 12 suspects. More»

Teachers asked to watch out for extremist students

(NEWSER) - British teachers will be asked to monitor student behavior and report any suspected extremists to police under new government guidelines, the Guardian reports. A "tool kit" for teachers sets out how they should conduct classroom debates to smoke out any possible Islamic extremist or far-right racist views across all age groups. Some teachers complain that they're being handed an unfair burden. More»