5 Get Life In Prison For U.K. Bomb Plot

Five Al Qaeda-Linked Men Accused Of Plotting London Bombing Spree

(CBS/AP)  Five al Qaeda-linked men were sentenced to life in prison Monday for plotting to bomb a nightclub, power plants and an Iraq contractor in London — a plan that exposed links between their terror cell and the suicide bombers who attacked London's transit system in 2005.

The five, all British citizens, were convicted Monday of plotting to attack the London targets with bombs made from a half-ton stockpile of fertilizer after a yearlong trial in which prosecutors and an FBI informant claimed the group was linked to al Qaeda leaders. It was Britain's longest terror case.

It was also the country's most intensive surveillance operation ever, reports CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar. Investigators bugged more than 90 phone lines, sifted through 27,000 hours of video and audio intercepts and logged more than 33,000 hours watching the conspirators.

Surveillance teams tracking the five men stumbled onto the transit attackers over a year before they killed 52 commuters on July 7, 2005, but officials failed to piece together intelligence in time to halt the blasts.

Though agents slipped a tracking device on transit bombing ringleader Mohammed Siddique Khan's car and heard him pledge to carry out violence against non-Muslims during bugged conversations, Britain's MI5 spy agency halted surveillance — deciding he was not a priority.

Details of ties between the plotters and the subway bombers were kept secret from the jury to ensure a fair trial. The links were revealed in closed sessions and confirmed Monday by government officials and police.

Security officers claim Khan, accomplice Shehzad Tanweer and the mastermind of the fertilizer bomb plot, Omar Khyam, trained together at camps in Pakistan and met Abdul al-Hadi al-Iraqi, an al Qaeda operative now held at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.

The revelations are at odds with statements by Britain's government after the 2005 attack, when senior ministers — who a month earlier had lowered the country's alert status — said the strike was unexpected and the perpetrators unknown.

Jurors deliberated for almost a month over the plot to detonate bombs made from 1,300 pounds of fertilizer stockpiled in a London storage unit.

Khyam, 25, Anthony Garcia, 25, Jawad Akbar, 23, Waheed Mahmood, 35, and Salahuddin Amin, 32, were sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to cause explosions.

Garcia, Khyam and Waheed Mahmood will be eligible for parole after 20 years, and Amin and Akbar, after 17½ years — but all five were warned they could face spending the rest of their lives in jail.

Two others, Nabeel Hussain and Shujah Mahmood, were cleared of conspiracy to cause explosions. All seven are British citizens — six with family ties to Pakistan.

Khyam, who led the fertilizer bomb plotters to militia camps in Pakistan, was steeped in radicalism. At age 16, he dropped out of school and went to Kashmir and later visited Afghanistan to meet members of the Taliban.

Khan, Tanweer, and American radical-turned-FBI informant Mohammed Junaid Babar joined his 2003 camps, prosecutors said.

In Britain, conversations on 100 bugged phone lines and at two houses were taped, capturing Khan and Khyam discussing terrorism and the fertilizer bomb plotters debating possible targets, including central London's Ministry of Sound nightclub, with a capacity for 1,800 revelers.

Tapes revealed Mahmood and Khyam proposed attacks on a British construction firm, Amec, which has contracts in Iraq and helped clean up after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Mahmood, who worked for a utility supplier, suggested an attack against British electricity, water and gas power supplies.

In testimony, Babar, a naturalized American from Pakistan, said al-Iraqi had urged Khyam's group to carry out attacks in Britain.

"I have no doubt that they are clearly linked to the heart of al Qaeda," said Peter Clarke, Britain's police counterterrorism chief.

Some 700 police halted the plot in dawn raids in March 2004. Final targets had not been selected, but plans were dangerously close to execution, prosecutors said.

Khan was monitored alongside the fertilizer bomb plotters and details of his activities were reported by informants who knew him only by aliases. But he was never ranked as a major threat.

A government security official, who briefed reporters on the case in exchange for anonymity, said 15 other terror suspects were ranked as higher priorities than Khan and Tanweer.

But only one of those suspects was later jailed: Kazi Rahman — a man officials believe was trying to buy a missile launchers to target passenger jets. He pleaded guilty to possessing weapons for the purpose of terrorism.

Stretched by a growing number of suspected plots, MI5 never pieced together the intelligence on Khan. "There needs to be that killer fact and it just wasn't there," the official said.

Babar told U.S. authorities that Khan — whom he recognized from a blurred surveillance photograph — had sought meetings with al Qaeda leaders and warned he "should be checked out." But he didn't know Khan's real name and the tip was too vague to prompt action, the official said.

Intelligence on Khan and his cell was pieced together only months after their bloody attack, the official said — when their identities and aliases were established.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has ordered a panel of lawmakers to review an inquiry into the London bombings, which absolved counterterrorism officials of any blame last year.

But the government has ruled out demands from survivors and opposition lawmakers for a public inquiry based on the U.S. Commission into the Sept. 11 attacks.

"The security service will never have the capacity to investigate everyone who appears on the periphery of every operation," MI5 chief Jonathan Evans said, adding his agents would always regret failing to halt the London bombings.

[hazelknows]

Good for the Britts on there fight

against "homegrown terror". But because of all

the goings on lately with the shrub

administration, there will always be a

conspiracy theory with shrubs war for oil. And

with Tony Blair taking the heat for siding with

the shrub, maybe he needed a thata boy from the

people. This all happen before Tony decided to

step down; maybe, just maybe, with all the vast

amount of evidence, audio tapes and

surveillance information on these five men, you

wonder if these wanta be terrorist were lead

thru this with puppet strings until it was at

the crucial point and the authorities step in to

stop this attack. I know its crazy to think

that, but the shrubs administration is guilty

(again) of America doubting anything that

happens til his sorry @$$ is tossed to the curb.

[drinuk]

The fact that these B A S T A R D S were born in the UK does not make them British, nor will they ever be recognized as being anything other than Anti-British. They are sick Muslims who have abused the hospitality, education and welfare given to their parents, who indeed are equally to blame.
The time as come for change, the welcome mat must be withdrawn and all those not showing respect to our people should be removed by force. Why should we pay for these evil sick cretins for 40 yrs, Hang 'Em or as they would do Behead them.

[dfr814]

To "hazelknows":

Isn't it great that you can demean the United States using English rather than German? Your welcome, I think.

Dave from Texas

[infidel_us]

We need to do some serious 'heard thinning' on these islamo-fascists. Excavate a BIG hole, throw them and others in, cover them up with pig s*it.

[hazelknows]

Posted by dfr814 at 11:47 AM : Apr 30, 2007

well Dave from Texas, when you lie, get caught in a lie and liars all around you, what are we to think. Telling truth should not be a hard thing to do. and no, thank you

[zoltaric]

These innocent men are scapegoats used to perpetuate the wests hatred of peace loving Muslims. You want freedom of religion for everyone except Muslims. Why is George Bush not arrested for his terrorism aagainst Iraq. Why not arrest Ohlmeryt for his terrorism against Lebanon and illeagle occupation of Palistine?

[drinuk]

zoltaric, SO.....my friend, the ton of fertiliser was for growing potatoes or was it rice, maybe it was for the poppies in Afghanistan. Innocent My A R S E . What *** I N G planet are you living on.
I would agree regarding Bush and Blair but two wrongs do not make a right, they should be locked away for 40 years but so should your evil plotting mates.

[drinuk]

infidel_US, You sound like my kinda guy, can I come live next door to you.

[bizzzz-2009]

Zoltaric,
How are you so sure these men are innocent? Maybe their innocent in your eyes. Maybe global violent jihad is appropriate to you. Just remember- If it wasn't for pieces of s**t like these five guys, we wouldn't be in Afganistan or Iraq and gun ownership by Americans wouldn't be on the rise.

[lars008-2009]

PEACE LOVING MUSLIMS... HAHAHAHA

the religion of peace... hahahahaha

the war muhammad started rages on 1400 years later...

623 - Battle of Waddan
623 - Battle of Safwan
623 - Battle of Dul-'Ashir
624 - Muhammad and converts begin raids on caravans to fund the movement.
624 - Zakat becomes mandatory
624 - Battle of Badr
624 - Battle of Bani Salim
624 - Battle of Eid-ul-Fitr and Zakat-ul-Fitr
624 - Battle of Bani Qainuqa'
624 - Battle of Sawiq
624 - Battle of Ghatfan
624 - Battle of Bahran
625 - Battle of Uhud. 70 Muslims are killed.
625 - Battle of Humra-ul-Asad
625 - Battle of Banu Nudair
625 - Battle of Dhatur-Riqa
626 - Battle of Badru-Ukhra
626 - Battle of Dumatul-Jandal
626 - Battle of Banu Mustalaq Nikah
627 - Battle of the Trench
627 - Battle of Ahzab
627 - Battle of Bani Quraiza
627 - Battle of Bani Lahyan
627 - Battle of Ghaiba
627 - Battle of Khaibar
628 - Muhammad signs treaty with Quraish.
630 - Muhammad conquers Mecca.
630 - Battle of Hunsin.
630 - Battle of Tabuk
632 - Muhammad dies.
http://www.carm.org/islam/islam_chronology.htm

[brit-ifidel]

THEIR INNOCENT!

They were just keen gardeners

[gwagener]

BRIT-IFIDEL,
"Their" is the posessive form of "they."
"There're" is the contraction for "there are."

[gwagener]

I hit Publish too quick:
BRIT-IFIDEL,
"Their" is the posessive form of "they."
"There're" is the contraction for "there are."
"They're is the contraction for "they are."

[brit-ifidel]

LOL *** u r right!
I've lost all my credibility on my first posting!

[brit-ifidel]

No point trying say anything intelligent now.
Never mind! I'm good at drawing pictures!!!

[rheola-2009]

All due credit must go to the British security forces in this matter.
To all appearances, they just got on with an excellent operation, and followed it through to the finish, and as it appears, without political interference, common in other countries.

They can only be congratulated, in potentially saving so many lives.

[tomflint69]

lars008! dont try to show us your knowledge of Islamic wars and Islamic things you even dont know. more then 1/2 of your knowledge is based on false facts.
I am sure you dont know even the abcd of Christianity (or your religion). You just wasted
space.
All religions must be banned.

[tomflint69]

Sorry, now I understand that you wana make your Islamic website popular. You want people to visit the web link you posted in your message. Nice way of bringing web trafic! I will also try it for my website :-)

[sevenveils]

O my goodness, Is that the face of feelfree1 in that group?

[tomflint69]

heee heehe heee.... Sevenveils! give me your home address and I will send you apples (fresh apples from my farm lands in England)

[lestb35]

Five al Qaeda-linked men were sentenced to life in prison Monday for plotting to bomb a nightclub, power plants and an Iraq contractor in London %u2014


Boy oh boy, do they need a death penalty.

[bellal-2009]

They don't look like British men to me. They look like Middle Eastern men who went to Britain, took advantage of liberal immigration policy with the intent to carry out Al-queda attacks. These aren't BRITISH men. They are TERRORISTS, Middle Eastern TERRORISTS. Hang them from the highest tree. Brits, take back your country!

[hodek77]

These convicted men are the reason why Her Majesty's government must deport all the darkies.

[bellal-2009]

No, but scrutinizing ALL Muslims might be a good idea. Since it's exclusively radical Muslims who want to carry out attacks.

[aldesousa]

The dogs of Islam have been unleashed, these are a new breed, a cross between hate and ignorance. They are the scavengers of souls.
They will never appreciatte freedom because they thrive in death.
Sometimes I do feel sorry of these pawns in a big game of chess, but I feel more sorrow for the innocent lifes they take without warning or reason.
They should be bobamberd with books and not bombs.

[toolmangler-2009]

All religions must be banned.
Posted by tomflint69 at 06:44 PM : Apr 30, 2007


Don't worry. That has been foretold and will happen.

[j-whitman]

Good job UK & you did it without GITMO & waterbording...

[stezzer]

DRinUK

You are a prize one pillock, and you had the cheek to tell me to vote BNP on a previous posting.

You're a joke, get back to the BBC.

[extremophil]

Prison life in England. What a severe punishment.

[zoltaric]

These men are innocent scapegoats in Bush and Blairs war against Islam.

Demand freedom for these warriors of Allah.

God bless them that someday the truth is revealed and they can enjoy freedom someday.

Recognize the true enemies of freedom. the only thing they are guilty of is having a mid-eastern appearance.

Very sad day's thee are.

[jankebenz]

life sentances for killing 52 inocent people? what a joke. Instead of wasting millions of tax payers dollars to incarcerate them, I say have a public hanging. Save millions and make a good example for other muslem sickos.