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Men convicted over UK bomb plot Men convicted over UK bomb plot
(10 minutes later)
Five men have been convicted of a bomb plot linked to al-Qaeda that could have killed hundreds of people in Britain.Five men have been convicted of a bomb plot linked to al-Qaeda that could have killed hundreds of people in Britain.
Jurors in the year-long Old Bailey trial heard of plans to target a shopping centre, nightclub and the gas network with a giant fertiliser bomb.Jurors in the year-long Old Bailey trial heard of plans to target a shopping centre, nightclub and the gas network with a giant fertiliser bomb.
Police smashed the plot in 2004 after MI5 had watched an Islamist extremist network with links across the world.Police smashed the plot in 2004 after MI5 had watched an Islamist extremist network with links across the world.
It has also been revealed some of the plotters met two of the 7 July London suicide bombers.It has also been revealed some of the plotters met two of the 7 July London suicide bombers.
GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY TO CAUSE EXPLOSIONS: FULL PROFILES OF THE MEN Jawad Akbar, 23 Omar Khyam, 26 Salahuddin Amin, 32 Waheed Mahmood, 35 Anthony Garcia, 24 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/4830322.stm">The indictment in full class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6417353.stm">The link to 7 July GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY TO CAUSE EXPLOSIONS: FULL PROFILES OF THE MEN Jawad Akbar, 23 Omar Khyam, 26 Salahuddin Amin, 32 Waheed Mahmood, 35 Anthony Garcia, 24
Mohammed Sidique Khan was spotted on four occasions in 2004 with at least one of the conspirators. At one point MI5 officers followed Khan back to his home in Leeds but no further action was taken.Mohammed Sidique Khan was spotted on four occasions in 2004 with at least one of the conspirators. At one point MI5 officers followed Khan back to his home in Leeds but no further action was taken.
Because of their workload and other cases having immediate priority in 2004, MI5 did not monitor him as he was not considered a risk. A year later Khan would lead the bombers who killed 52 people in the London attacks.Because of their workload and other cases having immediate priority in 2004, MI5 did not monitor him as he was not considered a risk. A year later Khan would lead the bombers who killed 52 people in the London attacks.
In the wake of the convictions both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have both called for an independent inquiry into the 7 July link.In the wake of the convictions both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have both called for an independent inquiry into the 7 July link.
The call for an inquiry was echoed by Graham Foulkes, whose son David died in the 7 July attacks. He said an inquiry was needed so "lessons could be learned".The call for an inquiry was echoed by Graham Foulkes, whose son David died in the 7 July attacks. He said an inquiry was needed so "lessons could be learned".
The link with 7 July was deliberately kept from the Old Bailey jury for fear of prejudicing their deliberations on the fertiliser bomb plot.The link with 7 July was deliberately kept from the Old Bailey jury for fear of prejudicing their deliberations on the fertiliser bomb plot.
Al-Qaeda linkAl-Qaeda link
The unprecedented investigation also linked back to senior al-Qaeda figures in Pakistan and Afghanistan.The unprecedented investigation also linked back to senior al-Qaeda figures in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Omar Khyam, 26, from Crawley, West Sussex, was found guilty of conspiring to cause explosions likely to endanger life between 1 January 2003 and 31 March 2004.Omar Khyam, 26, from Crawley, West Sussex, was found guilty of conspiring to cause explosions likely to endanger life between 1 January 2003 and 31 March 2004.
The ingredients of the bomb were found in this lock-up in west LondonThe ingredients of the bomb were found in this lock-up in west London
Also convicted were Waheed Mahmood, 34, and Jawad Akbar, 23, also of Crawley; Salahuddin Amin, 31, from Luton, Bedfordshire; Anthony Garcia, 24, of Barkingside, east London.Also convicted were Waheed Mahmood, 34, and Jawad Akbar, 23, also of Crawley; Salahuddin Amin, 31, from Luton, Bedfordshire; Anthony Garcia, 24, of Barkingside, east London.
The men, all British citizens, face life sentences.The men, all British citizens, face life sentences.
Two other men, Nabeel Hussain and Shujah Mahmood, were found not guilty.Two other men, Nabeel Hussain and Shujah Mahmood, were found not guilty.
Home Secretary John Reid said: "Five dangerous terrorists are now behind bars thanks to the hard work of our police and security services...Today's case reminds us all that the terrorist threat we face is real and severe."Home Secretary John Reid said: "Five dangerous terrorists are now behind bars thanks to the hard work of our police and security services...Today's case reminds us all that the terrorist threat we face is real and severe."
In one of the largest terrorism trials ever brought before the British courts, the Old Bailey heard the plotters had come together over a number of years.In one of the largest terrorism trials ever brought before the British courts, the Old Bailey heard the plotters had come together over a number of years.
TARGETS DISCUSSED Bluewater shopping centreUtilities networkMinistry of Sound nightclubParliamentFootball stadium The indictment in full The link to 7 July
The men had started out sympathetic to Muslim causes around the world - but the key plotters decided that violence was the answer as they came together for secret military training camps in Pakistan.The men had started out sympathetic to Muslim causes around the world - but the key plotters decided that violence was the answer as they came together for secret military training camps in Pakistan.
Back in Britain, they discussed various schemes, including targeting the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent on a busy Saturday or the Ministry of Sound nightclub in central London.Back in Britain, they discussed various schemes, including targeting the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent on a busy Saturday or the Ministry of Sound nightclub in central London.
They also talked of attacking the gas or electricity network and Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament.They also talked of attacking the gas or electricity network and Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament.
Tip-offTip-off
The group had bought 600kg of ammonium nitrate from an agricultural merchants and kept it at a storage unit in Hanwell, west London.The group had bought 600kg of ammonium nitrate from an agricultural merchants and kept it at a storage unit in Hanwell, west London.
DISCUSSED TARGETS Bluewater shopping centreUtilities networkMinistry of Sound nightclubParliamentFootball stadium
This fertiliser was to be the key component in the massive bomb - similar to those used in other terrorism attacks around the world.This fertiliser was to be the key component in the massive bomb - similar to those used in other terrorism attacks around the world.
But unbeknown to the men, some of them were already on MI5's radar while, at the same time, staff at the storage unit tipped off police.But unbeknown to the men, some of them were already on MI5's radar while, at the same time, staff at the storage unit tipped off police.
They replaced the ammonium nitrate with a harmless substance and kept the group under surveillance before swooping in a series of raids.They replaced the ammonium nitrate with a harmless substance and kept the group under surveillance before swooping in a series of raids.
TRIAL FACTS 3,644 witness statements taken105 prosecution witnessesTrial lasted for 13 monthsJury was out for record 27 days
David Waters QC, prosecuting, said the bomb, or bombs, would have been used "at the very least to destroy a strategic plant within the United Kingdom, or more realistically to kill and injure citizens of the UK".David Waters QC, prosecuting, said the bomb, or bombs, would have been used "at the very least to destroy a strategic plant within the United Kingdom, or more realistically to kill and injure citizens of the UK".
The Old Bailey heard the defendants had had at least two fellow conspirators.The Old Bailey heard the defendants had had at least two fellow conspirators.
One of them, an American called Mohammed Junaid Babar, admitted his role in the plot after being arrested by the FBI and became a vital prosecution witness.One of them, an American called Mohammed Junaid Babar, admitted his role in the plot after being arrested by the FBI and became a vital prosecution witness.
The other was Mohammed Momin Khawaja, awaiting trial in Canada.The other was Mohammed Momin Khawaja, awaiting trial in Canada.
The jury deliberated for 27 days, a record in British criminal history.The jury deliberated for 27 days, a record in British criminal history.
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said the deal allowing Babar to testify was unprecedented in British courts.A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said the deal allowing Babar to testify was unprecedented in British courts.