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Trio cleared over 7/7 attacks Trio cleared over 7/7 attacks
(about 1 hour later)
Three men have been cleared of helping to plan the 7/7 London suicide attacks.Three men have been cleared of helping to plan the 7/7 London suicide attacks.
A re-trial jury at Kingston Crown Court found them not guilty of conspiring with the 2005 bombers by organising a reconnaissance mission to London.A re-trial jury at Kingston Crown Court found them not guilty of conspiring with the 2005 bombers by organising a reconnaissance mission to London.
Waheed Ali, 25, Sadeer Saleem, 28, and Mohammed Shakil, 32, all from Leeds, admitted knowing the bombers - but denied helping them.Waheed Ali, 25, Sadeer Saleem, 28, and Mohammed Shakil, 32, all from Leeds, admitted knowing the bombers - but denied helping them.
Ali and Shakil were found guilty of a second charge of plotting to attend a terrorism training camp in Pakistan.Ali and Shakil were found guilty of a second charge of plotting to attend a terrorism training camp in Pakistan.
The men were originally tried in 2008, but the first jury failed to reach verdicts against them.The men were originally tried in 2008, but the first jury failed to reach verdicts against them.
Those now found guilty will be sentenced on Wednesday.Those now found guilty will be sentenced on Wednesday.
As the verdicts were delivered, Waheed Ali gave a broad smile and Sadeer Saleem wiped his eyes. Mohammed Shakil placed his one hand on the glass partition between the dock and the well of the court and mouthed "thank you" to the jury.
The three men are the only people to face any charges in relation to the 7/7 London bombings.The three men are the only people to face any charges in relation to the 7/7 London bombings.
7/7 Investigation in numbers 90,000 phone calls examined4,700 phone numbers probed13,000 exhibits7,000 forensically examined18,450 statements taken19,400 documents created In Pictures: 7/7 investigation7/7 Investigation in numbers 90,000 phone calls examined4,700 phone numbers probed13,000 exhibits7,000 forensically examined18,450 statements taken19,400 documents created In Pictures: 7/7 investigation
During the three-month retrial, the jury heard that the trio, all from Leeds and all close friends of the bombers, had been key members of a tight circle around ringleader Mohammad Sidique Khan.During the three-month retrial, the jury heard that the trio, all from Leeds and all close friends of the bombers, had been key members of a tight circle around ringleader Mohammad Sidique Khan.
All three, the jury was told, shared a violent jihadist ideology.All three, the jury was told, shared a violent jihadist ideology.
Prosecutors in both trials had claimed that the men's movements in London mirrored a scouting trip by the bombers and included sites ultimately attacked.Prosecutors in both trials had claimed that the men's movements in London mirrored a scouting trip by the bombers and included sites ultimately attacked.
Neil Flewitt QC had told the trial that the case centred on circumstantial evidence which, he argued, created a compelling picture of guilt.Neil Flewitt QC had told the trial that the case centred on circumstantial evidence which, he argued, created a compelling picture of guilt.
But the trio maintained throughout the trial - and during tense evidence from the witness box - that they ideologically opposed suicide bombings and had been shocked by the attacks.But the trio maintained throughout the trial - and during tense evidence from the witness box - that they ideologically opposed suicide bombings and had been shocked by the attacks.
Counsel for the men told the jury there was no evidence linking them to the bombings and that they were being tried for guilt by association.Counsel for the men told the jury there was no evidence linking them to the bombings and that they were being tried for guilt by association.
Mr Flewitt said a December 2004 trip to London lay at the heart of the case because the three men, accompanied by two of the eventual suicide attackers, had used it to visit a number of possible targets.Mr Flewitt said a December 2004 trip to London lay at the heart of the case because the three men, accompanied by two of the eventual suicide attackers, had used it to visit a number of possible targets.
'Witch-hunt''Witch-hunt'
The prosecution said the group's movements bore a "striking similarity" to the final targets.The prosecution said the group's movements bore a "striking similarity" to the final targets.
But the men told the jury that the trip had been organised because Waheed Ali was planning to leave the country for militant training in Pakistan.But the men told the jury that the trip had been organised because Waheed Ali was planning to leave the country for militant training in Pakistan.
He and Sadeer Saleem were going to join the future bombers Mohammed Siddique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer, who had already left.He and Sadeer Saleem were going to join the future bombers Mohammed Siddique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer, who had already left.
He wanted to say goodbye to his sister, who lived in the capital. The others, the court heard, had simply gone along for the ride.He wanted to say goodbye to his sister, who lived in the capital. The others, the court heard, had simply gone along for the ride.
Mr Ali and the other two defendants had attacked the prosecution as politically motivated and a witch-hunt.Mr Ali and the other two defendants had attacked the prosecution as politically motivated and a witch-hunt.
Mr Ali was adamant that he was innocent and taunted the prosecution's attempts to pin the bombings on him.
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Trio cleared over 7/7 attacksTrio cleared over 7/7 attacks
At one point during the first trial, he said he was not guilty of plotting with the bombers - but had he been, he would have been unstoppable on 7 July.
The three men acquitted were arrested in 2007 amid the largest criminal investigation yet in the UK. But the 2008 trial reached a stalemate after almost three weeks of deliberations by the first jury.The three men acquitted were arrested in 2007 amid the largest criminal investigation yet in the UK. But the 2008 trial reached a stalemate after almost three weeks of deliberations by the first jury.
After Sadeer Saleem's release by the court, his solicitor, Imran Khan, read out a statement on his behalf. After Sadeer Saleem's release by the court, his solicitor, Imran Khan, read out a statement on his behalf, in which Mr Saleem supported calls by families of the bombing victims for a public inquiry.
"Had I been convicted of the allegation against me I have no doubt that I would have left prison a very old man. Thankfully a jury of ordinary people have been able to see this case for what it was - guilt by association," he said. We are not looking for people to blame, but we also know that we have not been told the whole truth Graham Foulkes, father of bombing victim class="" href="/1/hi/uk/8023312.stm">Reaction to the verdict
We are not looking for people to blame, but we also know that we have not been told the whole truth Graham Foulkes, father of bombing victim "I must make it absolutely clear that I had nothing whatsoever to do with the dreadful attacks on 7 July 2005, which I have always condemned," he said.
"I must make it absolutely clear that I had nothing whatsoever to do with the dreadful attacks on 7 July 2005, which I have always condemned.
"In my view the police wanted somebody, anybody, to pay for the murders of 52 people.
"I have lost over two years of my life, which I will never get back. I want people to know I am totally innocent and I want there to be an inquiry as to why I was prosecuted on the flimsiest of evidence.
"No-one should be put through what I was put through, and an inquiry should take place so that the police do not prosecute on the basis of guilt by association only."
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she welcomed the two guilty verdicts.Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she welcomed the two guilty verdicts.
"It clearly demonstrates the determined stance the UK takes against those suspected of involvement in terrorism," she said."It clearly demonstrates the determined stance the UK takes against those suspected of involvement in terrorism," she said.
Graham Foulkes, whose 22-year-old son David was killed in the Edgware Road Tube explosion, has called for a public inquiry into the bombings.Graham Foulkes, whose 22-year-old son David was killed in the Edgware Road Tube explosion, has called for a public inquiry into the bombings.
He said: "For almost four years we have been asking for an inquiry into what led up to 7/7.He said: "For almost four years we have been asking for an inquiry into what led up to 7/7.
"We are not looking for people to blame, but we also know that we have not been told the whole truth."We are not looking for people to blame, but we also know that we have not been told the whole truth.
"We believe that crucial lessons need to be learned. If mistakes have been made, they should be put right, not covered up. This is not a witch hunt, it is simply about saving lives.""We believe that crucial lessons need to be learned. If mistakes have been made, they should be put right, not covered up. This is not a witch hunt, it is simply about saving lives."
Community fearsCommunity fears
Tens of thousands of police hours have been spent on the four-year investigation - and detectives maintain there are people in the Leeds area who know more that could help their investigation.Tens of thousands of police hours have been spent on the four-year investigation - and detectives maintain there are people in the Leeds area who know more that could help their investigation.
The defendants accused the police and media of creating a climate of fear in the Beeston area of Leeds, where they live.The defendants accused the police and media of creating a climate of fear in the Beeston area of Leeds, where they live.
Sadeer Saleem's solicitor read out a statement after the acquittalSadeer Saleem's solicitor read out a statement after the acquittal
West Yorkshire Police assistant chief constable John Parkinson said the 7/7 attacks had "shocked and saddened everyone". West Yorkshire Police assistant chief constable John Parkinson said "intensive scrutiny" from police, public and media had put pressure on the residents of Beeston, and also Dewsbury, where some of the 7/7 bombers lived.
He also said "intensive scrutiny" from police, public and media had put pressure on the residents of Beeston, and also Dewsbury, where some of the 7/7 bombers lived.
He added: "Local people were very supportive of the investigation, both immediately after the event and in the many months that followed.He added: "Local people were very supportive of the investigation, both immediately after the event and in the many months that followed.
"These close-knit communities have shown great strength over the last three years. They remained united and continue to develop close relationships with each other and local neighbourhood police.
"The attacks on 7/7 have shown us that we all need to work together if we are to effectively respond to the threat of terrorism.""The attacks on 7/7 have shown us that we all need to work together if we are to effectively respond to the threat of terrorism."
Deputy assistant commissioner John McDowall, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, called for anyone with information about the attacks to come forward.Deputy assistant commissioner John McDowall, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, called for anyone with information about the attacks to come forward.
"While those directly responsible for the bombings died in the attacks, we remain convinced that others must have been involved in the planning," he said."While those directly responsible for the bombings died in the attacks, we remain convinced that others must have been involved in the planning," he said.
"I, again, would urge anybody who has any information about the July 7 attacks, to come forward and contact police.
"I do understand that people may have concerns about the impact of giving us information, but it is the right thing to do."