Trio charged for terror plot in US

Three terror suspects being held in London have been charged in the US with an al Qaeda plot to attack financial institutions in New York and Washington.

The three are alleged to have carried out scouting missions at New York's Stock Exchange and Citicorp Building, the Prudential Building in Newark, New Jersey, and the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington.

The men, including a 32-yearold with British and Pakistani citizenship, face four charges in the US, three of conspiracy and one of providing material support to terrorists.

US officials said any attempt to extradite the men would be after their UK trials. The Crown Prosecution Service said these were due to begin in January and any sentences must be completed before extradition.

US officials allege that one of the men is a senior al Qaeda figure. The scouting trips are alleged to have been between August 2000 and April 2001.