A judge sentenced five men to life in prison Monday for plotting to bomb several targets in London _ including a popular nightclub, power plants and shopping mall _ in a trial that exposed links between the men and at least two of the suicide bombers who attacked the capital two years ago.
Details that were kept secret to ensure a fair trial emerged after the verdict, showing ties between the five men and the bombers who attacked London's transit system on July 7, 2005, killing 52 commuters. But counterterrorism agents failed to piece the information together in time to prevent the 2005 bombings.
The revelations are at odds with statements by Tony Blair's government after the 2005 attack.
Senior ministers, who a month earlier had lowered the country's alert status, said the 2005 attack was unexpected and the perpetrators unknown.
The jury that convicted the five men deliberated for nearly a month after nearly a year of testimony in Britain's longest terror trial. The men, all British citizens, were accused of plotting a series of attacks using more than 1,300 pounds of fertilizer they had placed in a storage unit.
Omar Khyam was found guilty of conspiracy to cause explosions made from a chemical fertilizer that could endanger life. Also found guilty in the conspiracy were Anthony Garcia, Jawad Akbar, Waheed Mahmood and Alahuddin Amin.
No comments:
Post a Comment