Samar Alami
Encyclopedia
Samar Alami, a Lebanese
-Palestinian
woman, and daughter of a banker, was convicted of conspiracy to cause explosions, in a case arising from the 1994 Attack on the embassy of Israel in London
(1987), followed by an M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering (1988), from the Engineering Faculty at University College London
(which was later attended as well by the 2009 Christmas Day bomber Umar Abdulmutallab.
, west London
, and a Jewish charity in north London in July 1994, causing millions of pounds of damage, though nobody was killed, and while 22 were injured, none were seriously injured. The bombs were the first use in the UK of explosives made of triacetone triperoxide (TATP).
She admitted possessing other explosive devices and related literature. Botmeh was alleged to have purchased the two cars that were used in the attacks, and a large amount of TATP explosive of a different type to that used in the two bombs was found in a lock-up rented by him. The two alleged that a Palestinian known to them as "Reeda," whom they were unable to further identify, had supplied the TATP found in the lock-up and accompanied Botmeh to buy cars at auction. TATP was also used many years later in the London 7/7 bombings that killed 52 people in 2005.
She was found to have partnered in the bombing with Jawad Botmeh, an electronics engineer who was in the same terrorist cell, and who was also convicted. Both were sentenced to 20 years in prison. Both obtained science degrees at British universities, which the prosecution alleged at trial gave them the knowledge they needed to make explosives.
She later appealed to the European Court of Human Rights
, but that appeal was dismissed in June 2007.
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
-Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
woman, and daughter of a banker, was convicted of conspiracy to cause explosions, in a case arising from the 1994 Attack on the embassy of Israel in London
Education
She gained a B.Sc. in Chemical EngineeringChemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
(1987), followed by an M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering (1988), from the Engineering Faculty at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
(which was later attended as well by the 2009 Christmas Day bomber Umar Abdulmutallab.
Attacks
In the attacks two car bombs rocked the Israeli Embassy, in Kensington GardensKensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens, once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, is one of the Royal Parks of London, lying immediately to the west of Hyde Park. It is shared between the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The park covers an area of 111 hectares .The open spaces...
, west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and a Jewish charity in north London in July 1994, causing millions of pounds of damage, though nobody was killed, and while 22 were injured, none were seriously injured. The bombs were the first use in the UK of explosives made of triacetone triperoxide (TATP).
Arrest, trial, and conviction
Alami was arrested in March 1995, and charged with detonating explosions likely to endanger life.She admitted possessing other explosive devices and related literature. Botmeh was alleged to have purchased the two cars that were used in the attacks, and a large amount of TATP explosive of a different type to that used in the two bombs was found in a lock-up rented by him. The two alleged that a Palestinian known to them as "Reeda," whom they were unable to further identify, had supplied the TATP found in the lock-up and accompanied Botmeh to buy cars at auction. TATP was also used many years later in the London 7/7 bombings that killed 52 people in 2005.
She was found to have partnered in the bombing with Jawad Botmeh, an electronics engineer who was in the same terrorist cell, and who was also convicted. Both were sentenced to 20 years in prison. Both obtained science degrees at British universities, which the prosecution alleged at trial gave them the knowledge they needed to make explosives.
Appeals
She appealed, but lost her Court of Appeal bid in November 2001.She later appealed to the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
, but that appeal was dismissed in June 2007.