By The Los Angeles Times

Published: Thursday, January 3, 2013, 10:04 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

LONDON — Abid Naseer, a terror suspect alleged to be part of an al-Qaida plot to blow up targets in the United States, Norway and Britain, was put on a plane on Thursday afternoon to face trial next week in New York.

In a terse statement, Britain's Home Office confirmed that “Abid Naseer was extradited to America, where he is accused of terrorism offenses. His case is now a matter for the U.S. authorities.”

Naseer, a 26-year-old Pakistani who arrived in Britain on a student visa, was first arrested in Manchester in 2009. He and 11 other Pakistanis were nabbed in police raids on suspected terrorism cells in northern England.

A search of documents, photos and emails in his possession found messages with references to weddings and meetings with girlfriends — believed to be code for terrorism plans. Based on that evidence, Naseer was suspected by British prosecutors and police to be part of a conspiracy to blow up targets in central Manchester.

Prosecutors, though, lacked sufficient evidence to put him on trial and were blocked by human rights laws from deporting him.

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