Terror charges dropped in London plot case

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- A Pakistani court has dropped terrorism charges against a man called a key figure in an alleged plot to blow up jets flying to the United States from London.

A judge in a special anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi ruled there was not enough evidence to charge Rashid Rauf, a British Muslim of Pakistani origin, with terrorism.

The judge transferred the case to a regular criminal court, where Rashid faces lesser charges of carrying explosives and forging travel and identity documents, the BBC reported.

Pakistani officials arrested Rauf in August, calling him a "key person" in the alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic flights.

Police also arrested 25 people in raids across Britain -- charging 17 of them -- after uncovering an alleged plot to detonate improvised explosives aboard as many as 10 planes bound for the United States.

Britain said the dropping of charges against Rauf would "make no difference" to the case against the men charged in Britain.