A BIRMINGHAM-born terror suspect today emerged as the suspected architect of the plot to blow up thousands of innocent air passengers in a series of suicide attacks aboard transatlantic jets.

It follows the conviction of a trio of pop bottle bombers after US spies intercepted damning e-mails between the group and their al-Qaeda fixer in Pakistan, known as “Paps”.

He was thought to be Birmingham-born Rashid Rauf.

The Ward End man is thought to have become embroiled in terrorist campaigns after fleeing to Pakistan after his uncle Mohammed Saeed, 54, was stabbed to death in the city in 2002.

The coded emails between hate-filled bomber Abdulla Ahmed Ali and “Paps” were intercepted by the American National Security Agency and shared with British anti-terror agents.

They referred to explosives as “aftershave” and police surveillance as a “skin problem”.

In one email, Ali wrote: “I set up my music shop now. I only need to sort out an opening time. I need stock.”

This, the prosecution said, was a message that the bomb factory was ready, the plan was being pulled together and the ingredients for the bombs were needed.