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Four 21/7 bomb plotters get life | Four 21/7 bomb plotters get life |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Four men convicted of the 21 July bomb plot have been jailed for life, with a minimum tariff of 40 years each. | |
Muktar Ibrahim, 29, Yassin Omar, 26, Ramzi Mohammed, 25, and Hussain Osman, 28, were found guilty on Monday. | Muktar Ibrahim, 29, Yassin Omar, 26, Ramzi Mohammed, 25, and Hussain Osman, 28, were found guilty on Monday. |
Their plot to detonate explosives on three Tube trains and a bus in London in 2005 was a "viable... attempt at mass murder", the judge said. | |
Two other men - Manfo Kwaku Asiedu and Adel Yahya - face a retrial after the first jury failed to reach a verdict. | Two other men - Manfo Kwaku Asiedu and Adel Yahya - face a retrial after the first jury failed to reach a verdict. |
'Devastation' | 'Devastation' |
The judge, Mr Justice Fulford QC, said the failed attacks were clearly connected with the bombings that killed 52 people in London two weeks earlier. | |
"What happened on July 7 in 2005 is of considerable relevance to this sentencing. | "What happened on July 7 in 2005 is of considerable relevance to this sentencing. |
"I have no doubt that they were both part of an al-Qaeda-inspired and controlled sequence of attacks," he said during sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court. | "I have no doubt that they were both part of an al-Qaeda-inspired and controlled sequence of attacks," he said during sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court. |
While the implementation of their plan was incompetent, their aim was clear - they wanted to kill and maim on a massive scale Sue Hemming, Crown Prosecution Service | While the implementation of their plan was incompetent, their aim was clear - they wanted to kill and maim on a massive scale Sue Hemming, Crown Prosecution Service |
He added they had designed the plot for "maximum impact" and had carried it out "with their eyes wide open". | He added they had designed the plot for "maximum impact" and had carried it out "with their eyes wide open". |
Referring to the attacks of 7/7, Justice Fulford told the court: "The family and friends of the dead and the injured, the hundreds, indeed thousands, captured underground in terrifying circumstances - the smoke, the screams of the wounded and the dying - this each defendant knew. | |
"After 7/7 each defendant knew exactly what the result would be." | |
He said the scientific evidence produced during the trial had shown the plan came "very close to succeeding". | He said the scientific evidence produced during the trial had shown the plan came "very close to succeeding". |
"If the detonators had been slightly more powerful or the hydrogen peroxide slightly more concentrated, then each bomb would have exploded." | "If the detonators had been slightly more powerful or the hydrogen peroxide slightly more concentrated, then each bomb would have exploded." |
None of the men could be considered for release for 40 years, he concluded. | None of the men could be considered for release for 40 years, he concluded. |
'Brutal intent' | 'Brutal intent' |
Sue Hemming, head of counter terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said the men had seen the "devastation" caused on 7/7 and "could have been in no doubt about the consequences of their actions" on 21/7. | Sue Hemming, head of counter terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said the men had seen the "devastation" caused on 7/7 and "could have been in no doubt about the consequences of their actions" on 21/7. |
"These men planned a co-ordinated attack on the London transport system. Over many months they designed and built their own bombs. | "These men planned a co-ordinated attack on the London transport system. Over many months they designed and built their own bombs. |
"While the implementation of their plan was incompetent, their aim was clear. They wanted to kill and maim on a massive scale." | |
She said they had shown their "brutal intent" because they had seen what had happened on 7/7 but continued with their plan. | She said they had shown their "brutal intent" because they had seen what had happened on 7/7 but continued with their plan. |
Ms Hemming also confirmed the CPS intended to seek a retrial for conspiracy to murder against Adel Yahya and Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, adding that they were only accused of the offences and had a right to a fair trial. | Ms Hemming also confirmed the CPS intended to seek a retrial for conspiracy to murder against Adel Yahya and Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, adding that they were only accused of the offences and had a right to a fair trial. |