A HIGH Wycombe terror suspect has been convicted of plotting to blow up seven transatlantic passenger jets after a six-month trial.

Assad Sarwar, described as the 'quartermaster' of an Al Qaeda plot, was today found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder on board transatlantic jets after previously being convicted of a general conspiracy to murder charge.

Sarwar, of Totteridge, was one of three people to be convicted at Woolwich Crown Court today.

But Donald Stewart-Whyte, a white Muslim convert from High Wycombe, was found not guilty of both charges.

During the trial, the 23-year-old former Amersham and Wycombe College student claimed he had never heard of plot leader Abdulla Ahmed Ali, who was today convicted of both charges.

Umar Islam, a 31-year-old formerly of High Wycombe, was found guilty on the conspiracy to murder charge but jurors were unable to reach a verdict on the transatlantic jet plot after 54 hours' deliberation.

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Sarwar, 29, was found guilty alongside 28-year-old Ali, of Walthamstow, and 26-year-old Tanvir Hussain of Leyton of targeting seven flights.

The terrorists planned to board planes with liquid 'bottle bombs' disguised as soft drinks at Heathrow Airport and blow themselves up in the sky alongside their victims.

They were almost ready to attack when anti-terror police prevented the massacre in a series of raids, including in King's Wood in Totteridge and Fennel's Wood in Loudwater.

The court heard evidence the leaders of the London-based cell were in constant contact with Al Qaeda warlords in Pakistan.

Sarwar was given 'precise instructions on the secret explosive recipe' used in the bombs by Al Qaeda.

He and Ali went to Pakistan in the summer of 2006, where Sarwar was taught how to make bombs from hydrogen peroxide, the court heard.

Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, told the court: “It is the Crown's case that this plot was directed from Pakistan.

“This was part of a much wider scheme of things: acts of terrorism on an international scale, directed from abroad using home grown terrorists, young radicalised terrorists prepared to lose their lies in a global act of Jihad.”

Following their return from Islamabad, five men from east London were persuaded to join the conspiracy – and all made 'martyrdom videos' which would have been released after the bombs had been set off.

But anti-terror police had bugged a terraced house in Forest Road, Walthamstow, which Ali and Hussain were using as a bomb factory.

Ali and Tanvir were caught discussing the possibility of as many as 18 flights being attacked in mid-air at the same time.

A video camera installed at the bomb factory also showed Ali and Hussain drilling holes in the base of a drinks bottle.

When officers swooped on the night of August 9, 2006, they found a computer memory in Ali's pocket containing flight schedules for a number of American and Canadian airlines, with seven specific departure times highlighted in bold.

In simultaneous raids, 38 litres of hydrogen peroxide - the main explosive used by the 7/7 bombers - were found at or near Sarwar’s home.

Sarwar, Ali and Hussain were convicted of conspiracy to murder on board transatlantic jets by a majority of 11 to one. They had already been convicted of a general conspiracy to murder.

Jurors were unable to reach a verdict in relation to the jet plot for 28-year-old Ibrahim Savant, of Stamford Hill, north London, but convicted him of the general conspiracy to murder.

Arafat Khan, 28, and 25-year-old Waheed Zaman, both of Walthamstow, were cleared of the transatlantic jet plot but jurors were unable to decide on whether they were guilty of a general conspiracy to murder.

Sarwar, Ali and Hussain are due to be sentenced next Monday, when prosecutors are set to announce whether they plan retrials for the remaining defendants.