Islamist terrorists who plotted to blow up 10 planes must not be eligible for early release from prison

Too dangerous IT could have been the worst mass murder in criminal history. A gang of Islamist terrorists plotted to blow ten passenger jets out of the sky with liquid explosives smuggled through Heathrow disguised in hand luggage as drinks, shampoo and toothpaste. Islamist terrorists from left: Arafat Waheed Khan, Waheed Zaman and Ibrahim Savant Credit: AP:Associated Press Waheed Zaman in a ‘martyrdom’ video, intended to be released by al-Qaeda after the attacks Credit: Nicholas Razzell Had the plot succeeded, up to 10,000 innocent people could have been killed — three times the death toll of the 9/11 attacks on New York’s Twin Towers. Britain was spared that unimaginable slaughter thanks to the bravery, skill and ingenuity of MI5 and the police, who smashed the conspiracy just days before the planned attacks. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! But three of the men convicted of conspiracy to murder — Waheed Zaman, Ibrahim Savant and Arafat Waheed Khan — could soon be eligible for parole after serving 20 years of their life terms. These were not misguided young men caught up in some minor offence. They were convicted of planning mass murder on an appalling scale. All three recorded “martyrdom” videos, intended to be released by al-Qaeda after the attacks. The British public has had enough of violent criminals being released early while victims and their families are left to live with the consequences. The Parole Board must not allow pressure to ease prison overcrowding to cloud their cold-headed judgment when considering these cases. Most read in The Sun Some prisoners are just too dangerous to release. These terrorists should be among them. Off to prison BRITAIN’S overcrowded prisons are at breaking point — yet 10,000 foreign lags are taking up scarce places. Most of them would have been booted out long ago if their home countries had agreed to take them back. Instead, the Government has been forced to free thousands of offenders early to stop the system collapsing. So Nigel Farage’s idea to ship foreign convicts to serve their sentences 5,500 miles away in the grim jails of El Salvador is worth exploring. It would end the sickening spectacle of violent crooks being freed halfway through their sentence. And make foreign visitors think twice about bringing criminal activities to Britain. Back to work FRESH back from holiday, Andy Burnham will embark on a cost of living tour tomorrow — and recycle an idea first unveiled by Sir Keir Starmer three years ago. He will re-announce plans to end “subscription traps” which deliberately make it tricky for people to stop recurring charges after ordering online. Perhaps when he’s delivered his latest “easy win”, the PM might find time to turn his mind to more pressing issues. Like the economy, illegal migration, hospital waiting lists and rebuilding our hollowed-out Armed Forces. Comment now