On June 29, in central London, two Mercedes Benz sedans were found laden with explosive petrol, gas canisters and metal nails. They were successfully disarmed.
Tragedy and terror had been averted, but only for a day.
On June 30, a dark green SUV carrying two men slammed into the glass doors of the main airport terminal and burst into flames at Glasgow International Airport in Scotland.
The driver sustained heavy third-degree burns and later died. Five members of the public were injured, though none seriously. The passenger of the SUV survived virtually unharmed, and was taken into custody.
The first serious terror threats in the UK since the 2005 London bombings caused panic. The police stepped up their patrol; airports beefed up security and travel to and from the UK became tedious.
When the suspects were identified, the greatest shock came to India.
Of the five people charged, three were born in Bangalore: brothers Dr Kafeel Ahmed and Dr Sabeel Ahmed, and their cousin Dr Mohamed Haneef.
The event was dubbed the UK doctor terror plot, as all five suspects were studying medicine or engineering and came from financially stable backgrounds.
Dr Haneef won a legal battle when an Australian court reinstated his work visa as 2007 drew to a close.
Image : Police go over the scene at Glasgow Airport after a blazing car was driven into the airport's main terminal June 30, 2007, in Glasgow, Scotland.
Text: Matthew Schneeberger | Photograph: Mark Runnacles - Pool/Getty Images
Also read: Haneef's interrogation in Australia
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